[bigsmooth]

the ladies will face some top notch competition again in hawaii. let's get em ladies!

Liberty faces Hawaii at 4 p.m. (local time) to open play at the event on Wednesday. The Lady Flames will then square off against Nevada at Noon (local time) and California at 2 p.m. (local time) on Thursday before closing out play at the event against Baylor at 2 p.m. (local time) on Friday.

Lady Flames’ fans can follow all of Liberty’s game live via LiveStats, provided by Hawaii at the following web address:

http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/media/St ... opview.htm

[Fumblerooskies]

FLAMES WIN. FLAMES WIN.

Three-Run Sixth Lifts Lady Flames To 4-3 Victory Over No. 23/25 Hawaii
Terra Lowe picked up the victory in Liberty's win over No. 23/25 Hawaii.
March 14, 2007
Honolulu, Hawaii

Liberty scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome an early deficit and open up the Bank of Hawaii Invitational with a 4-3 victory over No. 23/25 Hawaii, Wednesday afternoon, at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

With the victory, the Lady Flames raise their record to 12-8 on the year. The victory marks the fourth time in the history of the program that Liberty has defeated a nationally-ranked opponent. Liberty defeated No. 25 Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2005 and swept a doubleheader from No. 24 Virginia Tech last year in Blacksburg, Va.

The homestanding Rainbow Wahine wasted little time taking the lead in the game as Hawaii scored three in the top of the first on four hits to open a three-run lead, 3-0.

Leadoff hitter Tanisha Milca connected on a solo home run to straightaway center field, her seventh of the year and tying Hawaii’s single season team school record as the round tripper was the 42nd on the season for the Rainbow Wahine.

Claire Warwick kept things going with a double to the gap in right-center field, followed by Kaulana Gould’s RBI single back up the middle. After a groundout by Tyleen Tausaga moved Gould to second, the center fielder was able to cross the plate for the team’s third run off a base knock up the middle by Kate Robinson.

The Lady Flames were able to get on the scoreboard as a fielding error extended the frame and allowed Liberty to score a run. Jessica Moore led off the inning with a single to right center.

After Moore moved to second base on her fourth stolen bases of the year, the senior advanced to third on a two-out grounded ball off the bat of Sarah Swor which second baseman Alana Power was not able to handle to extend the frame.

And the Lady Flames took advantage of the extra at bat as Shannon McKain singled through the left side of the infield, plating Moore and trimming Hawaii’s lead to two runs, 3-1.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth inning as Liberty plated three runs on two hits and two walks to claim the lead, 4-3.

Moore led off the frame by drawing a walk, but was erased as second on a fielder’s choice by Ashley Williams. Beth Bennett followed with a single through the left side of the infield. Swor was issued a walk to load the bases, followed by Liberty’s first run of the inning as McKain singled to right to drive in Williams.

Courtney Johnson kept things going for Liberty as the sophomore was issued the second walk of the inning, forcing in Bennett from third. Beth Hensley capped off the inning as the senior lofted a fly ball to right field, scoring Swor on the sacrifice fly and plating the deciding run.

Terra Lowe, who relieved starting pitcher Sarah Ellis in the sixth inning, was able to defuse Hawaii’s seventh-inning rally attempt as the Rainbow Wahine got two runners on in the frame, but Lowe got a pop-up to first and a swinging strikeout to secure the victory.

Lowe upped her record to 4-2 on the year as the senior allowed one hit over 2.0 innings of work, walking one and striking out two. Ellis allowed three runs, all in the first inning, on nine hits in 5.0-plus innings of work.

McKain led the Lady Flames from the plate as the outfielder was 2-for-3 with two RBI, followed by Hensley who was 1-for-2 with a RBI and Moore who was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

The Lady Flames continue action at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, hosted by Hawaii, tomorrow when they face Nevada at Noon (local time), followed by a contest against No. 25 California at 2 p.m. (local time).

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 9&TeamID=2

[Stevev]

I am really impressed with this team as they are more than holding there own agains't this high level of competition. This is our best win since last year sweep of a nationally ranked Virginia Tech team. Keep up the good work.

[TallyW]

great job ladies!

[bigsmooth]

nice job ladies!!!!

[bigsmooth]

another nice win for the ladies!

Pair Of Two-Run Innings Lifts Liberty To Victory Over Nevada At Bank of Hawaii Invitational
Shannon McKain was 2-for-3 with a double in Liberty's victory over Nevada.
March 15, 2007
Honolulu, Hawaii

After waiting for the weather to clear, the Lady Flames plated two runs in both the first and fourth innings en route to a 4-2 victory over Nevada to open Day 2 action at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, hosted by Hawaii, at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

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.

[bigsmooth]

you have to be impressed with the ladies even in defeat!

Solo Homer In Second Gives No. 25 California 1-0 Victory Over Liberty
Courtney Johnson was one of four players who helped Liberty out hit No. 25 California on Thursday.
March 15, 2007
Honolulu, Hawaii

The Lady Flames out hit former national champion California, 4-2; however, it was Bernice Masaniai’s one that mattered the most as the catcher’s solo homer in the second was the lone run in Liberty’s 1-0 loss to No. 25 California, closing out Liberty’s second day of action at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, hosted by Hawaii, at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

With the split on the day after the Lady Flames’ 4-2 win over Nevada, 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.

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.

[thesportscritic]

at least we aren't getting slaughtered by nationally ranked opponents. good job. We still have Tennessee to deal with.

[thesportscritic]

we do get another shot at California in the Louisville Classic in about a week from now.

[Hold My Own]

by all the personal pics going up on facebook by the players on the team I'm not sure when they find time to play a game!

[Fumblerooskies]

[Hold My Own]

HAAA.....SJ????? WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!

[Stevev]

It looks like we have Baylor tonight at 8 PM assumming that it doesn't rain. Another nationally ranked team and a chance to get some respect.

[Hold My Own]

Ahh just do a search for the thread with the Julie pics...that outta keep you entertained for a while!

[SuperJon]

HAAA.....SJ????? WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!

I rarely read the softball forum.

I've seen some of the pictures though.

Milk's done a few of em good.

[Hold My Own]

Milk's done a few of em good.

But lets not act like we'll ever get another Julie...agreed?

[SuperJon]

Have you seen her pictures from the new school?

Whole.

Lee.

Crap.

[Stevev]

LU with the early 2-0 lead over Baylor. Baylor is 14th ranked so expect a tough test to say the least. The game is on gametracker right now. A homer by Jessica Moore with one on did it.

[Stevev]

We just dodged a bullet in the 4th but Terra Lowe pitched her way out of it with 2 on one out. Got an infield popup and a strike out to end the threat. 2-0 LU.

[Stevev]

Jessica Moore just singled with the bases loaded to bring in 2 more runs. Now 4-0 LU.

[Stevev]

All right. still 4-0 in the seventh. 3 more outs for the greatest win ever for LU softball. Lets put this one in the books.

[Stevev]

Sara Ellis in to pitch for Terra Lowe with 2 outs and 2 on base.

[Stevev]

Bases loaded now with 2 outs

[Stevev]

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.

[krh44]

Impressive Win - Ladies playing well. Just beat a ranked opp. yesterday and have lost two close games to ranked opp.