Box Score LYNCHBURG, Va. – A big seven-run second inning was all Liberty needed in a 9-1 victory over the Norfolk State softball team on Thursday evening in the first game of the Liberty Softball Classic at Kamphuis Field at Liberty Softball Stadium.
 
After that big outburst, the Flames added single runs in the next two frames to win in five innings via the eight-run rule. The Spartans had one hit on the day, as Chase Cassidy struck out 10 in a dominating performance for the Flames (9-11).
 
Liberty's second inning saw 10 batters come to the plate. Alexia Taylor hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight the inning, while Jaclyn Amader capped the scoring in the frame with a solo homer to left field. The Flames also got RBI singles in the third and fourth innings.
 
Junior first baseman Kayla McNair had NSU's only hit of the day. That came in the fourth when the Spartans scored their only run of the contest. Freshman Shelby DesChamps walked to open the inning and went to second on a sac bunt. She then scored when left fielder Tori Zavodny dropped a fly ball off the bat of senior Whitney Williams.
 
NSU fell to 2-7 on the year.
 
Loveridge drove in two runs on two hits, while Taylor had three RBI for Liberty at the top of the lineup.
 
Cassidy (5-5) allowed one unearned run and the lone hit in five innings of work.
 
The Spartans will play back-to-back games against Rhode Island and La Salle on Friday beginning at 12:15 p.m. during the second day of the tournament.