Photo Gallery | 2024 CUSA Softball Championship Central
 
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – No. 1 Liberty catcher Savannah Jessee delivered the final blow in the Lady Flames’ dramatic, 4-3 victory over No. 2 WKU to claim the CUSA Softball Championship title on Saturday at the NM State Softball Complex. The sophomore catcher ripped a double to left-center that allowed Megan Fortner to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.  
 
Liberty (36-23) once again had to battle back after falling down 3-1 on a Kelsey Schmidt solo blast in the top of the sixth. The Lady Flames answered in the home half of the inning on RBI singles from Brooke Roberts and MC Wilson.
 
The Liberty pitching staff, led by winning pitcher Elena Escobar (14-5), held the Hilltoppers (33-20-1) to just two hits in 13 at-bats with runners on, including an 0-8 mark with runners in scoring position and an 0-5 clip with the bases loaded.
 
A member of the all-tournament team, Escobar entered in the third and tossed 6.2 innings, surrendering two runs on just two hits. Freshman Rylan Smith (12-7) suffered the loss after giving up the game-winning run.
 
Escobar was joined on the all-tournament squad by Jessee, Roberts, Wilson and designated player Brynn McManus, while Roberts took home tournament MVP honors after hitting 7-13 with seven RBI, which tied McManus for the team lead this week.
 
The Lady Flames await their regional fate in the Division I Softball Selection Show, which will air at 6 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN2.
 
2024 CUSA Softball All-Tournament Team
MVP/IF: Brooke Roberts, Liberty
C: Savannah Jessee, Liberty
DP: Brynn McManus, Liberty
DP: Dezianna Patmon, NM State
IF: TJ Webster, WKU
IF: Taylor Sanders, WKU
IF: Annie White, WKU
OF: MC Wilson, Liberty
OF: Sophie Weber, WKU
OF: Desirae Spearman, NM State
P: Elena Escobar, Liberty
P: Katie Gardner, WKU