North Carolina State held off a late Liberty rally to defeat the Lady Flames 2-1 on Wednesday at Liberty Softball Stadium's Campus Field.
With the win, the Tar Heels improved to 28-14 on the season. Meanwhile, Liberty (26-17) saw its winning streak end at six games.
Score overview
UNC – 2n.d. Inning – Coleman singles to right, Thompson scores, 1-0
UNC – 4th Inning – Thompson home run over left, 2-0.
Liberty – 5th Inning – McManus hits a single down the right field line, Barrett scores, 2-1
turning point
- UNC took a 2-0 lead over Liberty on Sanaa Thompson's fourth inning solo home run. The Tar Heels provided another threat in the fifth inning. With a runner on third base and two outs, Lexi Godwin sent a liner that went to Liberty's left field. KK Madrid It was taken away with a diving catch.
- The Lady Flames scored in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 2-1. Liberty got their first batter on base in the seventh inning. Riggan Barrett He singled out reliever Kenna Ray Dark. After one out, Liberty catcher Savannah Jessie He lined up for a double play to end the game.
Remarkable numbers
- UNC defeated Liberty 7-4 in the game, but the Tarheels made their only mistake of the game. North Carolina recorded two double plays, one for the Lady Flames. The guest side left seven runners on base, and the host side left four runners stranded.
- UNC was won by Talia Hanapel (1-0), who pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run, with two strikeouts. Bailey McClain pitched 1 1/3 innings of no-hitter relief and gave up one walk. Kenna Ray Dark earned his second save in a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.
- liberties keiran yoder (9-7) He pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed 3 hits, but allowed 5 hits and 2 runs, tying the game. Elena Escobar He pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits in relief, with two walks and one strikeout.
- For the Tar Heels, Sanaa Thompson went 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI, and two RBIs. Skylar Brooks (1 hit for 3) had a double and Alex Coleman went 1 for 4 with an RBI.
- Riggan Barrett Liberty went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Bryn McManus He scored one RBI in a 1-on-1 game, but Sierra Kersten His batting average was 1 hit in 3 at bats.
Beyond the Box Score
- UNC leads the all-time series against Liberty with a 7-3 record, and both teams have alternated wins and losses over the past three seasons. North Carolina State won at Liberty both in 2022 and this year, and last year the Lady Flames won at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- The Tar Heels entered the game ranked fifth in the nation with a team batting average of .357.
- Escobar has pitched 13 1/3 innings without allowing a run since starting Saturday at Middle Tennessee.
- Barrett had two hits, his seventh game of the season.
- McManus has had a pinch hit, RBI, and a base hit in two of the Liberty's last three games.
- Liberty has won three six-game winning streaks so far this season.
- The Lady Flames are 7-4 in one-run games this year.
- Liberty is 14-4 at home this season and 18-11 against ACC opponents at Liberty Softball Stadium.
next
The Lady Flames will host New Mexico State University at Liberty Softball Stadium from Friday through Sunday for their final Conference USA home series of the season.