The host Liberty Lady Flames got a nine-strikeout, four-hit shutout from senior Chase Cassady in a 1-0 win over Rutgers during Game 3 of the NISC Lynchburg Regional, Thursday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
With the win, Liberty (38-20) advances to Game 7, where the Lady Flames will take on the winner of tonight's game between Kent State and George Washington. Rutgers falls to 29-25 on the season and will play in an elimination game tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Scoring Summary LIBERTY – 3rd INNING – Amader walks, Amber and Autumn Bishop advance, Click scores.
Notable Numbers - Rutgers held a 4-3 edge in hits, while Liberty committed one error. Both teams left four runners on base.
- Cassady (14-3) tossed her fourth shutout of the season and 13th of her career. She fanned nine and allowed just four hits.
- Rutgers' Corah Price (16-11) drew the loss, allowing one run on three hits, striking out five and walking two.
- Autumn Bishop, Jaclyn Amader and Jasmeen Click had one hit each. Amader doubled and drove in one run.
- Three different Scarlet Knights had one hit each.
Turning Point - Liberty rallied for the game's only run in the bottom of the third. Click bunted for a single with one out. After a strikeout, Autumn Bishop singled and went to second on a throw. Price intentionally walked Amber Bishop to load the bases for Amader, who drew a conventional walk to score Click for a 1-0 lead.
- That was all the scoring Liberty would need, as Cassady allowed just two baserunners over the final four innings combined.
Beyond the Box Score - Liberty has tossed 17 shutouts this season.
- Liberty is 3-0 against Rutgers this year, defeating the Scarlet Knights by scores of 2-1 and 5-3 at the Texas A&M Invitational in February.
- The Lady Flames are 22-2 at Liberty Softball Stadium this season, and have won nine straight home games. Overall, Liberty has outscored opponents 131-27 at Liberty Softball Stadium this year.
- Liberty has now tossed five postseason shutouts all-time. Cassady has fashioned two of those, including the first NISC shutout in program history, May 16, 2017 against UNCW.
- The Lady Flames have won six straight NISC tournament games, dating to the 2017 edition.
- Sarah Robertson appeared in her 249th career game with as many starts. She has now played in and started more games than any Lady Flame all-time.
- Cassady is now tied for fourth in program history (Ali Thompson, 2001-03) with 13 career shutouts and is in seventh with 430 career strikeouts.
- Liberty is attempting to win its second NISC title, as the Lady Flames won the inaugural NISC crown in 2017.
- Earlier today, a program-record five Lady Flames were named to the NFCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region team. Julia DiMartino and Amber Bishop were voted to the first team, while teammates Sarah Robertson, Jaclyn Amader and Chase Cassady earned second-team honors.