LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty (6-13) opens Conference USA play by hosting Jacksonville State (14-7), Friday through Sunday at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.<\/p>\n
Series Coverage Quick Hits<\/p>\n
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\nJacksonville State\u00a0at Liberty\u00a0
\nFirst pitch:\u00a0Friday – 6 p.m. – Saturday – 3 p.m. – Sunday – 11 a.m.
\nLocation:\u00a0Lynchburg, Va.
\nStadium:\u00a0Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium
\nTV:\u00a0ESPN+ (Broadcast Team: Nick Pierce<\/a> (F-Sat.)\/Alan York<\/a> (Sun.), Tori Boyd\u00a0and Jenny Semenyna)
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\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Lady Flames and Gamecocks last met in the 2025 CUSA Softball Championship final, with Liberty prevailing 8-0 in five innings. In this year’s CUSA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Liberty was picked first, with Jax State coming in third. Liberty holds a 7-1 record over the Gamecocks in the last two seasons as CUSA opponents, with Jacksonville State earning a 7-2 win over Liberty in the 2025 CUSA semifinal.
\n\tBefore Saturday’s game, 2025 All-American, CUSA Player of the Year, CUSA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Academic All-American Rachel Roupe<\/a> will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
\n\tLiberty is 9-1 in its last 10 conference openers, winning the last five in a row. Last year, Liberty opened CUSA play with 11 straight wins, tying 2013 Tulsa for the best undefeated start in CUSA softball history.
\n\tThe Lady Flames are finishing up a 12-game homestand and are looking to get back on the winning track after dropping their last three games, including a Tuesday contest against Michigan. Jacksonville State has gone 11-3 in its last 14 games.
\n\tLiberty overcame a 4-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, last Friday against Radford. The Lady Flames got a two-run double from Savannah Jessee<\/a>, before Brynn McManus<\/a> won it, 5-4, with a two-run walk-off homer. Three out of Liberty’s six wins this season have been come-from-behind victories.
\n\tAlexia Carrasquillo<\/a> batted .455 (5-for-11) with a homer at the Liberty Softball Invitational, while Avery Noel<\/a> hit .333 (3-for-9) and started all four games at shortstop. Carrasquillo and Savannah Jessee<\/a> have both recorded nine RBI in nine home games so far this season.
\n\tCarrasquillo bats .321 for the year, with two homers and 12 RBI, as she had an eight-game hitting streak snapped on Saturday. North Carolina transfer (.309) leads the Lady Flames with 14 runs scored, while Jessee (.310) is tied with Carrasquillo for the team lead with 12 RBI.
\n\tSeven different pitchers have seen action in the circle for Liberty this season. Danner Allen<\/a> (2-0, 5.25 ERA) has earned a pair of relief victories this season over Radford and Syracuse, while Camden Anders<\/a> (2-1, 4.26) pitched her first career complete game in a 3-2 win over Maryland, Feb. 21. Abigail Findlay<\/a> (1-0, 3.65) earned a victory in her first career start, Feb. 20 against Toledo. Duke transfer Gabby Mike<\/a> (1-5, 4.78) leads the team in starts and innings pitched. Two-time all-conference pitcher Kaylan Yoder<\/a> earned the save on Feb. 20 against Toledo.
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