The Mounties had just four base hits and drew three walks, both low for the now 19-1, back-to-back NTL Champions, but it was Beachel’s 15 strikeouts against Liberty that sealed the upset win for the Lady Mustangs. 

Every Liberty batter in the lineup struck out at least once on the day, except for junior Addie Smith who delivered two of the Mountie’s four base hits and drove in their second and final run with a sacrifice fly in the opening frame. 

After Midd-West used a walk, a hit batter and a double to open the scoring in the top of the first, Liberty answered in the bottom half. 

Mackenzi Tice walked and would score on a Saige Lehman double to the fence to tie the game at one and later in the inning Smith brought Lehman home with her sac fly to give NPL an early, 2-1 lead that held until the 3rd inning. 

The Mustangs used a Mountie fielding error and a double to tie the game at two-all in the top of the 3rd and the score remained there until the 6th inning. 

Midd-West scored a run in the 6th to take a 3-2 lead and added their final two runs in the 7th inning as Beachel continued to stymie the Mountie hitters and the Mustangs earned just their second playoff win in 15 years.

Penn College-bound senior Tice would get tagged with the loss for Liberty, going six innings and allowing five runs (two earned) on five Mustang base hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. 

Sophomore Haley Litzelman relieved Tice in the 7th inning after the Mustangs put two runners on base with a single and a walk. After registering a pair of groundouts, MW got a runner home on a passed ball and another on a Mountie fielding error before Litzelman got out of the inning with a fly ball to Tice in centerfield to provide the 5-2 final. 

Along with Smith’s two singles and Lehman’s double, Tice had the Mountie’s remaining base hit. 

Liberty finishes their season with a 19-1 record.

Look for a season recap on the Mounties and our All-Tioga County and All-Regional softball teams coming soon.