Game 1
Game 2

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Liberty University swept a pair of softball games from Norfolk State on Thursday, wining 4-0 and 3-1 at the Liberty Softball Field.

Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis dominated the first game by pitching a one-hit seven-inning shutout and striking out 11 Spartans. NSU's only hit came via Danielle Wright's (Safety Harbor, Fla.) single up the middle in the top of the sixth.

The Flames (10-15) got a run in the first inning and posted three more on Kelly Strickland's three-run home run to center field in the fourth.

Alyssa Velazquez (Aurora, Colo.) took the loss for NSU (11-13). She pitched six innings and gave up six hits and four runs (three earned).

In the second game, Liberty stuck first when Beth Bennett singled down the left field line to score Jenny Law from second base. The Flames led 3-0 heading into the seventh inning, but NSU would ruin Tiffani Smith's shutout in the top of the seventh frame when Brianeisha Eure (Virginia Beach, Va.) doubled to left field to score Elizabeth Castaneda (Montclair, Calif.).

Smith earned the win in game two after going seven innings and allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out eight. Casey Pomeroy (Fallon, Nev.) pitched 3.2 innings and gave up one earned run and walked six in the losing effort.

The Spartans are off until March 28 when they open conference play at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla. The three-game series begins with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday and concludes with a single game at noon on Sunday.