More than one type of history was made in the softball NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. With one dramatic come-from-behind win, Liberty University reached the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history, and at the same time eliminated a No. 1 overall seed in the first round for the first time in the Super Regional era (starting in 2005).
After beating Marist University on Friday and top-seeded Texas A&M on Saturday, the Flames needed just one more victory over the Aggies in the double-elimination regional to secure a spot in the Super Regionals. They led 6-0, trailed 10-6 and eventually scored four runs in the seventh to send the game to extra innings, but Texas A&M prevailed, 14-11.
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Hours later, the two teams met again. The winner moved on. The loser went home. Liberty fell behind 3-0 and responded with a trio of home runs from Rachel Roupe and Savannah Jessee in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-3 lead. With the game tied in the top of the sixth, Roupe went deep for the second time in as many innings, putting the Flames ahead for the first time.
RACHEL ROUPE GOES YARD 🙌#RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN2 / @LibertySB pic.twitter.com/hLxC9YTyBY
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 19, 2025
Texas A&M scored twice in the bottom half of the inning but never led again as Liberty held on for a 6-5 victory. It marked the 50th win of the season, a new program record.
it just means more 👍 pic.twitter.com/7ZkjksuTBn
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) May 19, 2025
As one of the largest Christian universities in the country, faith is at the center of everything Liberty does. The first thing head coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Dot Richardson did in her postgame press conference was give glory to God.
“First, all praise to the Lord,” she said. “Thank you. God is so faithful. When I say that, I say it because you guys saw a battle out here. … It was amazing to watch, the talent that all the players have. And that’s what the Lord says: When you have your talents, put them out there to show.”
Junior Aubry Norris also led the team in prayer on the field.
Praise be to God! pic.twitter.com/27lXpHlvK9
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) May 19, 2025
At the Conference USA Tournament earlier this month that Liberty won to reach the NCAA Tournament, Richardson — who has been the team’s head coach since 2013 — shared a brief message before helping baptize 26 players from teams across the conference.
26 lives changed last night. Thank you, Jesus! pic.twitter.com/ar1aFkg40z
— Liberty Softball (@LibertySB) May 7, 2025
Richardson joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast last year and shared about the powerful series of events that led her to Liberty, as well as serving the Lord through coaching. When Richardson got a call asking her to lead the program, she had never been a head coach and didn’t know where the school was. She knew it was where she was supposed to be, though.
“I’ve been led here at Liberty … where we’re training champions for Christ,” she said on the podcast. “That is what really interests me. I knew as a young girl that God had given me a gift in athletics, and I knew it because I loved it so much, it was so natural.”
Under Richardson’s leadership, the Flames have reached the NCAA Tournament six times, and before setting the program record for wins this season, they won at least 40 games in six consecutive full seasons from 2017 to 2023. They have also won back-to-back Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles, their first two years in the conference.
Sophomore infielder JaMaya Byrum, who was standing on third base when Roupe hit her game-changing home run, was a guest on Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast in April. Byrum discussed the role faith plays in her life and why learning about God not being a one-time Savior has made such an impact on her.
“I want to control everything,” she said on the podcast. “I want to stick to my plan and my timing and all of the things just because our hearts are so selfish. But at the end of the day, I do have to realize that it’s a blessing to be here. I don’t deserve anything. It’s just such a blessing, so I can only be thankful for where my feet are.”
Liberty begins its best-of-three Super Regional series against the University of Oregon at 10 p.m. ET on Friday. Game 2 is at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. If needed, Game 3 will be Sunday.
However long the Flames’ run continues for, they will be giving God the praise every step of the way.
“God has given us amazing gifts and opportunities, and I just want to encourage all of us to get to know Him more,” Richardson said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “And the only way to do that is to get into His Word, right? To study, take the time to get closer and understand, to get your questions answered.”
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