Being the batter with two outs and the bases loaded can be a blessing or a curse, but for Liberty pitcher, Victoria Schmidt, it was a blessing as her three-run double proved to be the game winner over Bethlehem Catholic in an EPC softball playoff game on Monday at Liberty.

"It was amazing. I just wanted to run and get those girls home," Schmidt said. "I could finally breathe."

Still scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning, Liberty outfielder, Skilee Diaz, singled.

"I was under a lot of pressure for sure, but I got up and did what I had to do," Diaz said.

Reyna DeJesus followed up with a hit, and Diaz got to third.

"I was telling myself I just need to get a hit and not let my nerves get to me," said DeJesus.

Liberty catcher, Precious Torres walked, and the bases were loaded with Hurricanes when Schmidt hit a two-out double between left and center field.

DeJesus said, "I was sprinting from second. I saw it go over my head, and I kept running."

Liberty coach Sam Carrodo had been feeling the pressure, realizing the Hurricanes' first base runner didn't even get on until the sixth inning, but right before that, Carrodo lightened up.

"After the fifth inning, I said, let's have fun. I put Jess [Watts] in the huddle because she likes to joke around, and then I could see them all just relax," he said.

It was also around that time that Liberty assistant, Katie Buskirk, told the girls to choke up on their bats to get more control.

Once Liberty got their speed on the bases, even Carrodo started to relax.

For Schmidt, the winning pitcher, it was all about the Hurricane defense.

"I felt really good today, but our defense did amazing. I couldn't have done it without them," she said.

Liberty, the number two seed in the EPC tournament, will have taken on Northampton this Tuesday at Liberty, past Press deadlines.

Carrodo said, "Let's hope it continues because no one thought we'd be where we're at."

Freedom

Freedom softball dropped a 2-0 game to Easton to open up the EPC playoffs on Monday afternoon.

Easton's Maddie McConnell drove in the winning run in the third inning and finished the day 2-for-3.

The Pates managed only three hits off Maegen Kavanagh, who struck out seven in the victory.

Lauren Guidetti had one of the Freedom hits with a double.

Shayla Peterson struck out five in the loss.

The Pates must wait for districts while Easton next plays Parkland.