Virginia drops midweek contest with Liberty, 12-3

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia dropped a midweek contest with Liberty on Tuesday, falling by a score of 12-3 in six innings at Palmer Park.

Clare Zureich (0-4) took the loss in the start, allowing four runs on five hits in her 3.0 innings of work. Zureich (Cary, N.C.) struck out three and did not walk a batter.

McKenzie Wagoner (4-2) picked up the win in relief, closing out the final 2.1 innings as she allowed a hit and struck out two without surrendering a run. Emily Kirby made the start, working 2.1 innings and allowing one run on one hit with three walks and four strikeouts.

Liberty (23-12) jumped out to the early lead, pushing home a pair of runs in both the first and third innings.

Virginia (11-19) responded in the bottom of the third, getting an RBI single from Abby Weaver (Roanoke, Va.) to drive in Gabby Baylog (Waxhaw, N.C.) from third. Baylog walked to lead off the inning before a second walk moved her to second and a sac bunt pushed her to third for the Weaver hit. Virginia would go on to load the bases, but the Flames made the plays defensively to get out of the inning.

Liberty extended the lead in the fourth with a three-run home run, but Virginia would get two back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to an RBI double from Arizona Ritchie (Stafford, Va.) and a bases-loaded walk from Emma McBride (Magnolia, Texas).

The Flames capped the game’s scoring with five runs in the sixth inning.