[PAmedic]

The ladies face Stony Brook first on Friday afternoon at 2 PM down in Charlotte, NC. 4 games total over the course of the weekend, including the host team at 7PM Friday night.

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Lady Flames Fall To Stony Brook In 11 Inning Thriller To Open 49er Classic

March 10, 2006 · Charlotte, N.C.

The Lady Flames dropped their first extra inning game of the year as Liberty fell 5-4 to Stony Brook in an 11 inning thriller to open play at the 49er Classic, Friday afternoon, at Phillips Softball Classic.

Liberty jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as Dawn Jeffs, who left the game in the first inning after being injured on a stolen base attempt, returned to the line-up to record a solo homer to center field to give the Lady Flames a one-run lead.

Stony Brook answered back in the bottom half of the frame as Marissa Fleury led off the inning with a single to right field, while two batters later Kelsi Fanelli connected on a two-run homer to left field to give the Seawolves a 2-1 edge. The long ball continued to play a factor in the top of the fifth inning as Terra Lowe led off the inning with a solo homer to straightaway center field to knot the score at 2-2.

The Seawolves regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Laura Bradford led off the inning with an infield single down the first base line. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Westphal and a passed ball, Bradford crossed the plate on another infield single as Hayley Durham hit one deep in the hole to shortstop to allow Stony Brook to take a 3-2 lead.

Liberty tied the game in the top of the sixth inning as the Lady Flames capitalized on two Seawolves errors as Ashley Williams reached first on a fielding error by Bradford at shortstop. Beth Hensley followed with a single to center field to move Williams into scoring position, while the starting catcher scored on a throwing error by Molly Kestranek as the second baseman threw a ball away on a ground ball by Terra Lowe to tie the game at 3-3.

Neither team could score in the seventh inning, sending the contest into extra innings where both teams scored in the eighth as Williams drove in Jessica Moore on a sacrifice fly in the top half of the inning, while a RBI single up the middle by Fanelli drove in pinch runner Kelly Oberto.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the 11th inning as Fanelli led off the inning with a fly ball to center field, but the ball glanced off the glove of Shannon McKain, giving the Seawolves runners at second and third as Suzanne Turek, who started the inning at second as part of the international tiebreaker rule, advanced to third on the play.

After an intentional walk was issued to Christina Voth to load the bases, Bradford sent a hard shot to second base, but Jeffs wasn’t able to make the throw to the plate in time to get Turek who scored the game-winning run.

Angela Andrews picked up the win in relief of Sarah Hoffman as Andrews allowed two unearned runs on three hits in six innings of work, while Hoffman allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of action. Lowe was the tough luck loser as the junior allowed two unearned runs on just one hit in 5 1/3 innings of action and striking out six batters, while Sarah Ellis allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings of work.

Jeffs led the Lady Flames offensively as she finished the game 3-for-5 from the plate with a RBI and a run scored, while Hensley was 2-for-4.

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49ers Use Seventh Inning Rally To Overcome Lady Flames At 49er Classic

March 10, 2006 · Charlotte, N.C.

Host Charlotte got four-consecutive hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to overcome a two-run deficit and pick up a 5-4 win over Liberty, Friday night, to complete first day action at the 49er Classic held at Phillips Softball Complex.

This marked the second 5-4 loss on the day for Liberty as the Lady Flames dropped a 5-4 11 inning thriller to Stony Brook earlier in the day. With the pair of losses, the Lady Flames snap their four-game winning streak and fall to 10-6 on the year. Liberty returns to pool play action at the 49er Classic tomorrow against Indiana State (11 a.m.) and Morehead State (1 p.m.) with a chance to qualify for the championship game on Sunday afternoon.

Liberty broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning as Jessica Moore led off the frame with a single up the middle, while Ashley Williams was able to drive her in with a double to the fence in center field to give Liberty a 1-0 lead.

The 49ers tied the game in the bottom half of the third as Evan Miller led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center field, while Laruen Schmitz followed with a RBI single to center field to plate Miller and knot the game at 1-1.

Charlotte took the lead in the fourth inning as a double by Alyssa Kemmerer to right center field placed the starting first baseman in scoring position, while Karianne Huffstetler knocked her in with a RBI base hit to right field to give the 49ers a one-run lead.

The Lady Flames regained the lead in the fifth inning as Jeffs reached on a fielder’s choice play, while two batters later, Williams connected on her sixth home run of the year as her two-run shot well over the fence in left field gave Liberty a 3-2 lead.

Liberty added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as Jeffs once again reached on a fielder’s choice play. After advancing to second on a passed ball and to third on an infield single by Ashley Williams, Beth Hensley was called on to attempt a suicide squeeze bunt, but the left fielder wasn’t able to get the bat on the wall.

Jeffs was charging on the play and had to scramble back to third, but Becky Matthews’ throw back to third sailed into left field, allowing Jeffs to score and give Liberty a 4-2 lead.

After getting a line out to shortstop to start the seventh inning, Schmitz started the eventual game-winning rally with a single up the middle, while Matthews sent a hard shot off of Beth Bennett’s glove at first base to give the 49ers two base runners.

Kristi Killough followed with a two-RBI double to the gap in left center field to drive in Schmitz and Matthews and tie the game, while pinch hitter Brittany Cantrell ended it with a base hit down the left field line to plate pinch runner Sarah Malene and give Charlotte the win.

Kristen Bowen picked up the victory as she allowed four runs on seven hits and eight strikeouts in seven innings of work, while Sarah Swor suffered the loss as she allowed five runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings of action.

Offensively, the Lady Flames were led by Jessica Moore as she finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate, while Williams was 3-for-4 with three RBI.

[PAmedic]

Lady Flames Score Three In The Eight En Route To 4-2 Win Over Indiana State

March 11, 2006 · Charlotte, N.C.

The Lady Flames scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to pick up a 4-2 victory over Indiana State, Saturday afternoon, to begin their second day at the 49er Classic.

The Lady Flames jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Dawn Jeffs connected on a single to the gap in right center field, while Ashley Williams drove her in with a RBI base hit down the left field line.

Indiana State tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Meredith Simpson reached first on an infield single just down the third base line. After advancing to second on a bunt by Katie Armour, Simpson scored an unearned run as Jessica McGiveny grounded to shortstop but Jessica Moore’s throw was errant, allowing Simpson to cross the plate and even the game.

The score remained the same until the top of the eighth inning as Liberty scored three runs on three hits, starting with a base hit up the middle by Moore, while Jeffs knocked in Jessica Leary, who started at second as part of the international tiebreaker rule, with a base hit through the left side of the infield.

After a sacrifice bunt by Beth Bennett moved Moore and Jeffs into scoring position, Williams drove in Moore with a base hit through the left side of the infield, while Beth Hensley grounded to second, but Lauren Kebely’s throw the plate wasn’t in time to get Jeffs, giving the Lady Flames a 4-1 lead.

However, Indiana State made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth inning as a base hit by Jackie Chomicki gave the Sycamores runners at the corners with just one out. After getting Simpson to pop a bunt attempt up, starting pitcher Terra Lowe struck Armour on the arm to load the bases, while McGiveny drew a walk to force Yvette Tovar in from third.

Kelsey Anderson, who had struck out in her first three at bats of the game, made solid contact with one as she lined one down the left field line, but Beth Hensley made a diving catch to end game and secure the Lady Flames’ fourth extra inning victory in five extra inning games this season.

Lowe picked up the victory as she allowed two unearned runs on four hits in eight innings of work, while striking out a season-high 10 batters. Darcy Woods suffered the loss as she allowed four runs on eight hits in eight innings, while striking out an impressive 16 batters.

Offensively, Liberty was paced by Moore, Jeffs and Williams as all three players went 2-for-4, while Shannon McKain finished the contest 2-for-3 from the plate.

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Liberty Explodes For Seven In The Sixth Inning To Down Morehead State At 49er Classic

March 11, 2006 · Charlotte, N.C.

Liberty overcame a six-run deficit thanks in part to a seven-run sixth inning to pick up a 9-6 win over Morehead State, Saturday afternoon, to close out round robin action at the 49er Classic.

Along with their 4-2 eight inning win over Indiana State and the 9-6 win over Morehead State, the Lady Flames up their record to 12-6 on the year and 2-2 in the 49er Classic. Liberty still has an outside shot to advance to the 49er Classic championship game tomorrow at 2 p.m., but the Lady Flames will need some help during the remaining four games of the tournament which will be played later on today and tomorrow morning.

The Eagles scored first in the bottom of the first inning as leadoff batter Bri Jones slapped one in the gap in left center field, while a RBI double to the wall in right center field by Brandy Bucher gave Morehead State the 1-0 lead.

The Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning as Morehead State batted around the order during the frame, scoring five runs on three hits and capitalizing on two Lady Flames’ errors.

With runners on first and second, Becky King grounded to shortstop, but Courtney Johnson wasn’t able handle the throw at third base, allowing the ball to roll into the dugout and Chrissy Timberlake and Lyndsey Jackson to score.

Jones followed with a base hit to left field, while a fielder’s choice by Krystle Coleman allowed King to score. Bucher followed with a RBI double off the fence in left field to drive in Jones, while a sacrifice fly by Kari Quinn allowed Coleman to score and give the Eagles a six-run lead.

Down 6-0, Liberty slowly started to chip away at the deficit as Moore sent a shot to the gap in right center field for a triple in the third inning, while a groundout by Dawn Jeffs allowed her to score and put the Lady Flames on the scoreboard.

Ashley Williams kept things going in the top of the fourth inning as she led off the frame with a single to left field and later scored on a RBI base hit to right field by Sarah Swor.

But Liberty did almost all of its damage in the sixth inning as the Lady Flames exploded for seven runs on seven hits as Liberty batted around the order and the Eagles didn’t get an out I the inning until the Lady Flames completed their time around the line-up.

The Lady Flames started the scoring outburst as Swor doubled to the wall in center field, to drive in Terra Lowe and pinch runner Sarah Love, while pinch hitter Claire Fridey followed with a RBI single up the middle to plate Swor.

Moore continued the inning with a single to center field, while Jeffs gave Liberty runners at second and third with a RBI double to the same location that allowed Fridey to score.

Beth Bennett followed with a two RBI base hit down the left field line, to drive in Moore and Jeffs. Williams added a base hit to center field, while Beth Hensley loaded the bases with and infield single. After the Eagles finally got an out on a strikeout, Liberty plated one more run as McKain was issued a walk to force in Bennett and give Liberty its seventh of the inning.

Morehead State got runners all the way to third in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Lowe, who came in to relive Swor in the second inning, was able to bear down to leave the Eagles’ last threats stranded.

Lowe picked up the victory as she scattered five hits in 5 2/3 innings of relief work, while Swor allowed six runs (one earned) on five hits in the first 1 1/3 innings of the contest. Ashley Hubbell suffered the loss in relief of Quinn as Hubbell allowed six runs on seven hits in two-plus innings of action, while Quinn allowed three runs on four hits to start off the first five innings of the game.

Hensley and Swor both finished the game 2-for-4 from the plate with Swor driving in three runs, while Williams was 2-for-5 to round out Liberty’s multiple hit batters in the contest.

[bigsmooth]

a much better weekend, and we can still reach the championship game. as it stands we are 2-2 in pool play, and stonybrook is 2-1, and indiana state is 1-1. obviously if either team get to 3-1 in pool play we head home, and if we tie with stonybrook we would lose head to head, but we would win the tiebreaker with indiana state. the last pool game is at high noon, so hopefully we can reach the title game!

[PAmedic]

FYI: Charlotte defeated Stoneybrook to win the 49er Classic.

guess it looks bad if you DON'T win your own tourney!

[A.G.]

Yet, still no update from the SIDs on the LU site. Anybody hear how we ended up?

[PAmedic]

we won our last 2 games on Saturday but did not qualify for Sunday's championship due to the two pool losses on Friday- too little, too late sorta thing I guess. But at least the bats came alive and we got outta the weekend at .500

like I said, Charlotte won it all but I don't know where we placed. I even looked on the 49ers website but they didn't list the finishes of the other teams.