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Stevev wrote:We win 4-0. Wow what a win as Baylor was 14th ranked in the country. That has got to be the greatest win in the history of our softball program. Congratulations on this win and time to move on as there are other great teams we have to play yet.
actually the polls came out this week and they were ranked 10th. but a great win by the flames.
Lady Flames Down Nevada, 4-2; Fall to No. 25 California, 1-0, At Bank Of Hawaii Invitational
Courtesy: Liberty
Release: 03/16/2007
Courtesy: Liberty
HONOLULU, Hawaii – After waiting for the weather to clear, the Lady Flames pushed their winning streak to three straight with a 4-2 win over Nevada, before falling to No. 25 California, 1-0, in the nightcap in Liberty’s second day of action at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational hosted Hawaii at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. With the split on the day, Liberty raises its season record to 13-9. The Lady Flames will close out their stay at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational tomorrow when they face No. 14 Baylor, marking Liberty’s third-straight day they will face a nationally-ranked opponent. Liberty will not participate in the bracket play at the tournament due to prearranged travel requirements. After a four-hour rain delay, the Lady Flames jumped out to a two-run lead in the bottom half of the first inning as they scored twice on two hits against Nevada. Dawn Jeffs led off the frame as the senior dropped in a single to left field. Two batters later, Jessica Moore was struck by a pitch, followed by Beth Bennett connecting on her first career triple, with the three-base hit to right field driving in Jeffs and Moore to give Liberty a 2-0 run cushion after one. The Lady Flames combined for two runs on two additional hits in the bottom of the fourth, pushing their advantage to four runs, 4-0. Bennett was issued a walk to lead off the frame and later scored on a RBI base hit up the middle by Shannon McKain. After McKain moved to third on a double-play ball, the right fielder was able to score as Jeffs pounded one into the dirt over Kesley Starr at third base to plate McKain and give Liberty a four-run lead. But the four-run edge was short lived for Liberty as the Wolf Pack finally got on the scoreboard, scoring two runs with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth. Brittany Puzey got her team-leading eighth double to the fence in left center, followed by Kelsey Starr’s first home run of the year, with the two-run blast to center field trimming Liberty’s lead to two runs, 4-2. However, as in the previous evening, Terra Lowe came in to finish off the game, this time picking up her second save of the year after picking up the win in relief over No. 23 Hawaii last night. Lowe scattered two hits over the final 2 1/3 innings of the contest, striking out three. Sarah Swor upped her record to 3-2 on the year as the senior allowed two runs on seven hits, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings of work, securing Liberty’s third-straight victory and fourth in the previous five games. McKain and Jeffs led the Lady Flames from the plate as both batters finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored. McKain added a double and Jeffs a RBI. Moore and Bennett followed as both players were 1-for-2 with Bennett driving in two on the first inning triple. In the nightcap against No. 25 California, the Golden Bears took the game’s first lead in the top of the second inning as Bernice Masaniai connected on her fifth home run of the year. The opposite field solo round tripper over the fence in right field gave California an early 1-0 lead. And the lead would stand the rest of the contest as Liberty mustered a few challenges later in the contest, but could never get a runner to cross the plate. The Lady Flames ended up leaving eight runners on base during the game, including two in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. The closest Liberty came to scoring was in the sixth as the Lady Flames had runners at the corners with two outs, but Lauren Frankiewicz got Sarah Swor to fly out to right to end the threat. Liberty challenged again in the bottom of the seventh as Courtney Johnson was struck by a pitch, followed by Beth Hensley drawing a walk. However, Frankiewicz clamped down again, getting Dawn Jeffs looking and J’nae Jefferson to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game. The contest marked just the third time this year that Liberty has been shutout and the Lady Flames four hits ranks second fewest to Liberty’s three hits in a 5-0 loss to Hawaii last week. The Lady Flames out hit the 2002 NCAA softball national champions, 4-2, with Jeffs, Moore and Johnson finishing the game 1-for-3 and Hensley going 1-for-2 to account for Liberty’s hits. Ellis pitched a gem against the nationally-ranked Golden Bears, allowing just two hits, the solo home run on a low and away 0-1 pitch to Masania in the second, and a single down the line by Taylor Kelly in the fifth inning. Ellis walked six and struck out two in her team-leading fifth complete game of the year with her record falling to 5-4 with the tough-luck loss. Frankiewicz was the victor in the contest as the sophomore scattered Liberty’s four hits over seven innings of work, striking out nine and walking three to up her record to 9-4 on the year.
Lady Flames End Hawaii Swing With Shutout Victory Over No. 10/14 Baylor
March 16, 2007
Honolulu, Hawaii
Jessica Moore hit a two-run homer in the first and had a base hit in the fifth which was responsible for two more runs, helping Liberty to a 4-0 shutout victory over No. 10/14 Baylor, Friday afternoon, in Liberty’s final game at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, hosted by Hawaii at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
With the victory, Liberty’s second in three days over a nationally-ranked opponent, Liberty raises its record to 14-9 on the year. The game brings to a close Liberty’s Spring Break trip with the Lady Flames posting a 10-6 record over the previous 14 days of play, including a 6-5 mark in the state of Hawaii.
The victory also gives Liberty a win over its highest-ranked opponent and marks the fifth time the Lady Flames have defeated a nationally-ranked team in program history. Liberty downed No. 25 Texas A&M in 2005, swept a doubleheader from No. 24 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg last year and downed host No. 23 Hawaii to open this tournament on Wednesday.
Liberty jumped out to a quick two-run lead in the bottom of the first inning as the Lady Flames plated two runs on back-to-back hits. J’nae Jefferson starting the scoring run for Liberty as the freshman doubled off the fence in left-center field, followed by Jessica Moore’s team-leading seventh home run of the year. The opposite field shot over the fence in right field gave the Lady Flames a 2-0 lead after one.
The Lady Flames added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Liberty tacked on two additional runs on two hits and took advantage of an error in the outfield to take a four-run lead, 4-0.
Pinch hitter Courtney Johnson reached base on a fielder’s choice play, followed by Dawn Jeffs drawing a walk two batters later. Jefferson got her second hit of the game with a single up the middle to load the bases, setting the stage for Moore again.
And the senior came through with her third base hit of the game, a sharply-hit ball that glanced off the glove of Brette Reagan at third base, driving in Johnson, while Tiffany Wesley wasn’t able to handle the ball in the left which allowed Jeffs to score Liberty’s fourth run.
But the Lady Flames didn’t go quietly in the top of the seventh as Baylor mounted a two-out rally in an attempt to get back into the game. A single by Ashley Monceaux was followed by back-to-back walks issued to Chelsi Lake and Reagan.
However, Sarah Ellis came in to relieve starter Terra Lowe and got the final out, securing the victory for Liberty. The Lady Flames finished the game by leaving 12 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first, second and seventh innings.
Lowe was the victor in the game, for Liberty, raising her record to 5-2 as the senior scattered six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work, striking out a season-high seven batters and walking four. Ellis faced two batters in the seventh, walking one and getting the other to fly out to pick up her second save of the year.
Moore led the Lady Flames from the plate as the center fielder was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Jefferson followed as the freshman was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Liberty gave Baylor starting pitcher Brittany Turner her first loss of the year as the hurler fell to 2-1 after surrendering three runs on three hits in four innings of work. The loss for the team was just the eighth of the year as Baylor falls to 25-8 after the outcome.
The Lady Flames return to the mainland for their next tournament as Liberty will travel to Louisville, Ky., to participate in the Louisville Classic Friday – Sunday. Liberty will once again face a daunting line-up of opponents as the three-day event includes No. 7 Northwestern, No. 9 Michigan, No. 25 California and host Louisville.
wow....this team is playing very well...I don't follow softball much....but I had heard the recruiting class this past year was very solid....I guess those weren't just rumors
- By LUOrange
- By ECC29