Liberty takes two from Camels 4-0 and 3-0

BUIES CREEK, N.C.—Liberty pitchers Chandler Ball and Kenzie Freisen combined to allow only six hits and the Flames blanked Campbell 4-0 and 3-0 to earn a sweep of Saturday's softball doubleheader at Amanda Littlejohn Stadium.

Liberty (15-15, 4-1 Big South) recorded consecutive shutout wins for the first time since the 2011 Big South tournament. Campbell (18-15, 1-6) suffered back-to-back whitewashes for the first time since Apr. 2012.

In the opener, Ball no-hit the Camels through five and 2/3 innings before Brittany Bruce lined a single to center field. Ericka Nesbitt and Kerstine Womack followed with hits, but Stephanie Jones grounded out to end the threat.

Ball (10-5) won her seventh-straight decision by scattering four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a complete-game effort for her third shutout of the year.

Camel starter Katie Baker (9-9) gave up three earned runs on 11 hits – 8 of which were infield singles – walked none and struck out five.

The opener was scoreless through four innings before Alexia Taylor reached on an error, stole second and later scored on Kelby Allen's infield hit. Liberty tacked on three more runs in the sixth, two on Megan Robinson's two-run, two-out single.

Mikey Loveridge and Blair Lawrence each had three hits for the Flames in the opener. Nesbitt, Womack, Melissa Tullar and Bruce each finished with a hit for the Camels.

Liberty jumped in front in the top of the first in Saturday's nightcap when Tori Zavodny walked, stole second and scored on Robinson's double. Zavodny and Allen both homered to right center in the third to extend LU's lead to three runs.

Friesen (4-6) did not allow a hit through four and 1/3 innings before Camise Patterson and Bailey Bjorson singled in the fifth. However, Maggie Christopher and Jones both grounded out to leave both runners stranded. Friesen finished the complete game effort by scattering two hits and two walks and striking out five for her first shutout of the season.

Julia Callicutt (8-4) allowed three runs on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

The teams conclude the three-game set Sunday in a 1:00 p.m. start.

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