Liberty Softball Bests Kennesaw State To Continue ASUN Dominance

Liberty Flames softball welcomed the Kennesaw State Owls into town for a three-game weekend series April 9-10. The Flames then proceeded to defeat the Owls in all three games. 

The Lady Flames opened the double-header with a dominant offensive performance when they scored eight of their 17 total runs from the weekend. Sophomore catcher Caroline Hudson put on a show, totaling three hits in her four at-bats. Of those three hits, two of them went yard, sailing over the back wall. Those two home runs totaled for five RBIs.

Hudson was not the only Lady Flame to show out in game one. Junior leftfielder Kara Canetto made an impression of her own on the box score with a stolen base, along with one hit and one run in game one.

After a brief intermission, the Lady Flames came back with a different approach. After an offensive first game, the second was all about defense — in particular, pitching. Senior southpaw Emily Kirby put on a show from the mound, opening the game with four straight 1-2-3 innings. Kirby totaled an incredible 11 strikeouts in the contest, while only allowing the Owls two runs and four hits.  Those two runs were one less than what the Lady Flames totaled themselves, giving Liberty the victory with a score of 3-2. 

Postgame, Kirby elaborated on her dominant performance. 

“I just have to try and get better each pitch, and you can’t let up throughout the game in such a low-scoring game,” Kirby said.

After winning both games of the doubleheader, the Lady Flames came back on Sunday with another dominant offensive performance. The Lady Flames won 6-1 with a total of nine hits as a team. Offense wasn’t the only thing clicking for the Lady Flames. Sophomore closing pitcher McKenzie Wagoner came out of the bullpen on a heater, securing the win for the team with three strikeouts over three innings pitched. 

These three wins set a historic precedent for the Liberty softball team. This season, the Lady Flames are 28-12 with an incredible 12-0 record against ASUN competition. 

That streak is the best in school history versus conference competition. The squad hopes to keep this streak alive in its three-game series against conference opponent FGCU April 15-16. Prior to that, however, the Lady Flames host Virginia Tech April 12 at 4 p.m.

Palsgrove is a sports reporter. Follow him on Twitter