UVA Softball's 11-Game Win Streak Ends in 6-2 Loss at Liberty

The Virginia bats were stymied by Liberty pitcher Karlie Keeney, who pitched a complete game and held UVA to just two runs

Matt Newton | Mar 7, 2023

Olivia Taylor/Virginia Athletics

It took a Herculean effort from Liberty pitcher Karlie Keeney, but the Virginia softball team's 11-game winning streak has come to an end. Keeney threw a total of 129 pitches and held the UVA bats to just two runs on five hits as Liberty defeated Virginia 6-2 on Tuesday night in Lynchburg.

The Flames jumped on the board early as Devyn Howard hit a leadoff solo home run to right center off of Virginia starter Molly Grube in the bottom of the first inning. Rachel Roupe tripled and then came around to score on a groundout to make it 2-0 Liberty at the end of the first frame.

UVA tied things up quickly in the top of the second inning as Gabby Baylog singled to get on base and then Kailyn Jones delivered the game-tying two-run home run to right field. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, those would be the only two runs they would score on Karlie Keeney.

Liberty regained the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI double from Caroline Hudson and added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by KK Madrey. In the bottom of the fifth, back-to-back doubles from Megan Fortner and Mary Claire Wilson extended the Liberty lead to 6-2.

The Cavaliers had runners in scoring position in each of their final five at-bats, but couldn't capitalize as Keeney continued to work herself into and out of jam after jam. Virginia stranded six runners on base and recorded just five hits on two runs. Keeney pitched a complete game and secured the win after throwing a staggering 129 pitches.

Now 17-5 on the season, Virginia will look to bounce back as ACC play begins this weekend with a home series against Georgia Tech in Charlottesville. Game 1 is set for 5pm on Friday at Palmer Park.

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Published Mar 7, 2023

MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.