Cry for mercy
Lady Flames take the series
The Liberty Lady Flames softball team took down Big South rival Campbell Fighting Camels in a double header Friday, April 15 at Kamphuis Field 9-0 and 5-4, respectively.
The Lady Flames started scoring early, with runs in the first inning. Freshman first baseman Deidra See drove in two runs with a double. Two batters later, See crossed home plate on a two-run single from senior third baseman Kassidy McCoy. At the conclusion of the inning, the Lady Flames built a 4-0 lead.
Almost — Kassidy McCoy applies the tag during the Lady Flames blowout Game 1 win at Friday’s doubleheader. Photo credit: Michela Diddle
The score remained 4-0 until the third inning when Liberty’s offense struck again. Freshman second baseman Rylee Reynolds drove in a run with a single and advanced See to second. A walk then loaded the bases for the Lady Flames. Sophomore designated player Jessica Cicerchia grounded into a fielder’s choice on a throw that went home. With the Camels catcher unable to secure the catch at home plate, See came in to score for the Lady Flames.
Sophomore outfielder Cassie Gingerich drove in another run on a ground out to shortstop and freshman outfielder Jaclyn Amader brought in another two runs with a single into right field giving the Flames a 9-0 lead.
“I was pleased that we adjusted offensively and defensively came through with a lot of people playing different positions,” Head Coach Dot Richardson said.
The first game ended in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule giving Liberty a 9-0 victory.
In the second game, the Lady Flames got on the scoreboard early once again. Sophomore catcher Alexia Taylor drove the ball to deep left center field for a double that scored sophomore left fielder Tori Zavodny. See came to the plate and doubled off the deep left field wall, scoring Taylor and securing a 2-0 lead for the Lady Flames after the first inning.
Drop — Tori Zavodny lays it down. Photo credit: Michela Diddle
Liberty built up a 3-0 lead, but after a big fourth inning from the Lady Camels the game was tied up at 3-3.
“Second games are harder because they know our pitching and where our holes are in our hitting lineups,” See said.
The Lady Camels nearly added to their lead, but a number of defensive holds by the Lady Flames, including a leaping catch at the wall made by Zavodny, kept the game in hand.
With the game tied at 3-3, the Lady Flames had the bases loaded with one out and See up at the plate. She smacked a single down the left field line scoring freshman center fielder Jasmeen Click and Zavodny to give Liberty a 5-3 lead.
“Coach always tells us that we have to have our pitchers backs at the plate and we did that,” See said.
The Lady Camels had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh. They added one run, but that was not enough to prolong the game, and the Lady Flames picked up the victory 5-4 sweeping the double header.
“When we play the first game and win it pretty solidly the second game is always a test,” Richardson said. “We need to have close ballgames so everyone is used to feeling it. It was good to see us respond. We did not get discouraged and we kept going.”
See finished the day with three hits, two runs scored and five runs batted in. McCoy added two hits with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Freshman pitcher Julia DiMartino picked up two wins on the day with the first one coming in just five innings, and the second coming in relief work for freshman Chase Cassady in the second game.
“I didn’t know I was going to relieve in the second game,” DiMartino said. “I knew Chase was going to get the job done, but sometimes we fall so we have to pick each other back up.”
DAY is a sports reporter.