Liberty Union softball tops Carlisle, inches closer to state final four

CENTERVILLE — Liberty Union fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but it didn’t take the Lions long to take the lead, and once they did, they never relinquished it in a 9-3 Division III regional semifinal win over Carlisle at Centerville High School.

Liberty Union (21-6) advanced and will face Casstown Miami East at 5 p.m. Friday in a regional final back at Centerville. A berth to the state tournament will be on the line.

Liberty Union scored two runs in the second inning and added four more in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead. The Lions plated two runs in the top of the fifth inning to increase its lead to 8-1, and after the Indians plated a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth, the Lions added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning.

Payton Hochradel led the way by going 3-for-3 and Haeden Brunty added two hits and three RBIs. Suzie Shultz chipped in two hits, while Emmalee Putnam and Macie Wollenberg finished with one hit each. Masie Buskirk scored two runs and had an RBI. Addi Osterman scored two runs.

Shultz picked up the win in the circle as she went the distance, giving up seven hits and striking out seven.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Liberty Union softball tops Carlisle, inches closer to state final four