Liberty scores early, often in doubleheader sweep of Elkins

Eventually, in both games, Liberty scored nine runs in the first inning of its 15-0 run-rule victory in game one over Elkins in three innings and its 14-3 run-rule victory in the second game of the doubleheader on Tuesday at Liberty.

The Mountaineers (2-1) bounced back from a season-opening loss to Lewis County on Monday.

The Tigers changed pitchers in the first inning of each game.

“They hit the ball well tonight,” Liberty coach Eric Younkins said. “We’re starting two freshmen in the middle infield, which is pretty tough sometimes, but they’re working hard. I think we have a pretty good team here; I think we’re pretty solid. They all get along well, they all play well together, and it’s a great start to the season. Last night was rough, but it is what it is. We’re looking forward to it; I think we’ll be in good shape the rest of the year.”

Game one

Destiny Coble not only pitched a three-inning one-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts, but also helped herself at the plate. She was 3 for 3 with a double, RBI and scored three runs.

“Mainly just fastballs, I didn’t see anything else,” Coble said when asked what pitches she saw from Elkins starting pitcher Hailey Riffle. “It looked like (her pitches were) either down the middle or outside.”

Liberty led 2-0 and increased its lead to 5-0 after consecutive RBI doubles by Bella Herrod and Makiah Ford and Kylie Swiger’s RBI single to left field.

A little later, with Elkins leading 6-0, Kambre Crock’s three-run double that split the gap in left center field increased the Mountaineers’ lead to 9-0.

In that first inning, the Mountaineers sent 12 batters to the plate.

Elkins got its only hit of the game, a single by Kennedy Hart, in the top of the second inning, but Coble struck out the next three batters to end the threat.

“Her curveball was looking really good, and she was placing her fastball and hitting the inside and outside corners really well,” Younkins said of Coble.

Liberty wasted little time in the bottom of the second as Herrod was hit by a pitch, advanced to second when a pop up to second was caught but an errant throw was made to first, which enabled Herrod to advance. She took third on a groundout and scored on Savannah Weekley’s RBI single to shallow center.

In the bottom of the third inning, Coble helped herself again, this time with an RBI double to deep left center, giving Liberty an 11-0 lead.

After Kambre Crock drew a walk, Charlee Johnson, who was 2 for 2, hit a high fastball down the middle over the fence in left field for a three-run home run.

“Before, all my pitches were lower, which I’m used to sitting on, but that home run that I hit, it happened to be really high, which I was very surprised,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think it was going to go over because it was so high, but apparently I got it pretty well on the bat.”

With Liberty close to the three inning run rule thanks to its lead, Swiger laced a double to center field, took third base on a passed ball and scored on another passed ball.

Swiger was 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored two runs. Herrod was 1 for 2 with an RBI and scored two runs. Ford was 1 for 3 with an RBI; Weekley was 1 for 1 with an RBI.

Game two

Elkins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Liberty didn’t wait long to answer. Herrod’s two-run triple to deep right center field put the Mountaineers on top 3-2.

An RBI double by Ford and an RBI single by Swiger increased the Mountaineers’ lead to 5-2. Later, Pearlman’s RBI double to left center, Coble’s RBI double to left center and Johnson’s single to left increased the Liberty lead to 9-0.

“These girls can hit the ball,” Younkins said. “One through nine can put the ball in play. It makes a big difference. We got all of the freshman in, everybody got to play, everybody got to hit tonight, which is good for them.”

Coble was 2 for 3 with two RBI and scored three runs. Kambre Crock was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Ford and Swiger were each 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored two runs.

Kadence Crock was 2 for 2 and scored two runs.

Kambre Crock also got the start in the circle and pitched three innings, allowing three runs on three hits and struck out five batters.

She was relieved by Coble, who tossed two innings and only allowed one hit. She struck out three batters.

Liberty increased its lead to 11-3 in the bottom of the second inning when Briar Travelstead’s grounder to short resulted in an errant throw to first base, allowing two runners to score.

“We work on that every day in practice — running bases, delayed steals,” Younkins said. “I’ve always been a big fan of that; I’ve always been aggressive on the bases. I tell them, ‘If I get you out, it’s me, it’s on me, it’s my fault.’ I won’t be mad; it’s part of the game.”

With two outs, Travelstead later scored on Coble’s RBI single to center field, giving Liberty a 12-3 lead.

Riffle got the start in the circle again, but was removed after six batters. She allowed six runs on four hits. She was relieved by Maddie Lambert, who allowed eight runs (four earned) on nine hits.