Liberty rebuffs Cimarron after fifth-inning uprising

Big innings are nothing new for Liberty's softball team. Staying focused with a lead is something the Patriots know they need to improve.

Liberty took a step in that direction Saturday at Cimarron-Memorial, exploding for six runs in the fifth inning and never looking back in an 8-4 victory.

The Patriots (10-1) had three hits through four innings and trailed 3-1, but sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth while chasing Cimarron starter Stephanie Kaplan.

"We have had big leads before, and we put things on cruise control and let people back in the game," Liberty coach Kris Jensen said. "Today I told the girls we have to play hard for 21 outs. If we play hard for those 21 outs, then the scoring will take care of itself."

In the fifth, Liberty got RBI hits from Francesca Foti, Carson Cooper and Nikki Blindeagle to take the lead. Diana Cassaro blew the game open, greeting Spartans ace Carrie Sheehan with a two-run triple.

From there, the game belonged to Foti, who allowed eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Breanna English retired the final five Cimarron batters.

"Cimarron is a quality program, and getting a road win like this is huge," Jensen said. "We have to learn just to play our game, and when we do that, good things will happen."

Foti also starred at the plate with three hits and three RBIs. Blindeagle and Cassaro added two hits each.

Kaplan led Cimarron (4-6) with three hits and two RBIs. Mia Hale had two hits and scored twice, and Serena Creswell drove in two runs for the Spartans.