[PAmedic]

Liberty begins a five-game home stand Tuesday afternoon, starting with 2 vs. the Marist Red Foxes. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Marist home page

what a cute doggie!

[PAmedic]

They are currently 4-5, have played all games on the road and have not yet started conf play in the MAAC.

They opened by losing 3 at Mississippi St, took 2 of 3 at Norfolk St, and 2 of 3 at Delaware. (Side note: They scored a total of 35 runs but gave up 36 in the last 3 game series at UD)

In 2005, they finished 33-21 overall, much better at home (14-4) than away (16-15) . Pretty good on neutral fields (3-2) and very good in conf (MAAC: 22-5), capturing their fourth MAAC title in the last six years and fifth NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997.

[A.G.]

Hopefully, we can lay a whupping on the Fred G. Sanford's this week!

[prototype]

6-1 Liberty, Top 6th

[A.G.]

The fighting Sanfords are in for a beat down!

[prototype]

Had to leave and get back to work. Was still 6-1, Bottom of Seventh. They looked good. Laurent hit another home run.

[Stevev]

Sounds good. Keep the updates coming. Thanks!

[BJWilliams]

Sounds good. Keep the updates coming. Thanks!

funny thing is that Liberty has never beaten Marist in 5 tries (Should change today)

[prototype]

Does anyone have an update. I have been watching ESPN News and they haven't done a hightlight on the game YET.

[prototype]

Liberty 6, Marist 5

Close one, but a win is a win.

Go Flames!!!

[Brokeback Flamer]

Sounds good. Keep the updates coming. Thanks!

funny thing is that Liberty has never beaten Marist in 5 tries (Should change today)

That is because they had Rik Smits

[bigsmooth]

the fighting sanfords! that is great! here is the story on the win!

Flames Down Red Foxes For Eighth Straight Win

March 14, 2006 · Lynchburg, Va.

Box Score Note: For game box score, click “Team Stats” link on the right-hand navigation bar as all season box scores are listed on this link.

Phillip Laurent drove in three runs with a home run and a double as the Liberty Flames defeated the Marist Red Foxes, 6-5, for their eight straight win, Tuesday, at Worthington Stadium.

Liberty, winners of 13 of their last 14 games, moves to 15-3, while Marist drops to 4-6. The win is the first all-time for the Flames over the Red Foxes (1-6) on the baseball diamond.

Marist took an early advantage on a RBI double by Bryan Towler in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

In the third inning, Liberty batted around in the frame, plating four runs to go on top, 4-1. With two out and runners at the corners, Michael Just (Sr., 2B, Woodcliff Lakes, N.J.) tripled to the wall in right field to put Liberty in front 2-1. He would then score on an error by the Red Fox center field on a fly ball off the bat of Aaron Grijalva (r-So., 1B, Redlands, Calif.). Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) followed with a sharply hit ball down the right field line for a RBI double to widen the advantage.

The Flames added two runs in the fifth inning. After Grijalva again reached on an error, this time by the third baseman, Laurent hit his fourth home run of the season over the right field wall, upping the lead to 6-1.

Marist cut into the Liberty advantage in the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles with one out, Kevin Grauer singled to left field. However, the throw back to the infield from the Flames’ left fielder would get away and end up in the Red Foxes dugout, allowing two runs to score. Two batters later, a ground out by pinch hitter Tom Ciccarone scored Grauer from third, trimming the Flames’ lead to 6-4.

In the ninth inning, the Red Foxes scored a run on a fielder’s choice to close the gap to one run, but Liberty closed out the inning for the 6-5 victory.

Liberty starter Phillip Thompson (Sr., RHP, Ringgold, Va.) runs his record to 3-1, winning his third straight start, allowing four runs, three earned, on 11 hits, while striking four and walking one. Dustin Umberger (Fr., RHP, Hummelstown, Pa.) pitched the ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season. Marist starter Jonathan Smith took the loss to fall to 0-2.

The Red Foxes and the Flames will meet again tomorrow afternoon at Worthington Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

[A.G.]

I'm glad someone FINALLY pick up on the Sanford reference.

[PAmedic]

yeah yeah yeah- Red Fox/ Redd Fox, got it funny man!

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

LU's Umberger works out of a jam

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
March 15, 2006

Dustin Umberger was going to have to learn some time.
With Phillip Thompson successfully transitioning into the starting rotation, Umberger, a Liberty freshman, was going to have to learn how to work his way out of the sorts of jams he found himself in Tuesday against Marist.

Bases loaded, one out, a two-run lead. A real pressure cooker. But Flames coach Matt Royer made no motions to pull Umberger in favor of Tim John. Umberger slithered his way out, allowing a run but closing the door with a strikeout of Kevin Grauer to secure a 6-5 win.

"He battled, and that's what we talk about," Royer said. "We need somebody to come in and close games 1-2-3 and put the game away. We haven't gotten there yet. But we've managed to find ways to win."

Liberty improved to 15-3, its best start since opening the 1979 season 15-2. The Flames again did it with solid starting pitching and timely hitting.

After a weekend sweep of George Washington, a 40-game winner a year ago, the Flames built a 6-1 lead and held off Marist's charge in the ninth inning.

Phillip Laurent pushed the lead to 6-1 with his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right in the fifth. Thompson, who moved from closer to No. 3 starter, appeared to be cruising until running out of gas in the eighth.

Thompson (3-1) allowed back-to-back-to-back singles and a Laurent throwing error allowed two runs to score. Thompson hit a batter before settling down. After getting a groundout (which scored another run to cut the LU lead to 6-4), he struck out Kyle Meyer to end the threat.

Umberger got Max Most to line out to short. But Travis Musolf and Pat Feeney singled and Bryan Towler walked to load the bases.

Justin Lepore hit a sharp grounder to third and Chad Miller stepped on the bag to force out Feeney. Musolf scored, but Umberger threw consecutives outside strikes after falling behind 2-1 to Grauer to end the game.

"I think I'm mentally ready and prepared," Umberger said. "And I think I have good enough stuff to get people out."

It was Umberger's second save, and he showed the sort of toughness needed to be a closer. Royer isn't sure he's found an answer at the position yet, but Umberger certainly will merit a closer look.

[prototype]

OK who's going to this game today and giving us updates????

[prototype]

Liberty 5 Marist 4, Final.

Go Flames!!!!!

[Stevev]

Nice to keep the momentum going. We beat a pretty good Marist team.

[PAmedic]

Flames Match Best Start In School History With Win Over Marist

March 15, 2006 · Lynchburg, Va.

Box Score Note:
For game box score, click “Team Stats” link on the right-hand navigation bar as all season box scores are listed on this link.

Phillip Laurent drove in three runs to back eight scoreless innings by Michael Solbach as the Liberty Flames downed the Marist Red Foxes, 5-4, to run their record to 16-3, matching the best start in school history, Wednesday at Worthington Stadium.

The Flames’ 16-3 mark ties the 1979 Liberty squad for the best start in school history. The 1979 team also began its season 16-3. Current Flames’ head coach Matt Royer was a member of that squad. Marist falls to 4-7.

The Flames jumped on the board with a single run in the first inning. Patrick Gaillard (Jr., SS, Taylors, S.C.) led off the frame with a double to the right center field gap, advanced to third on a fly out to right, and plated Liberty’s first run of the afternoon, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Grijalva (r-So., 1B, Redlands, Calif.) for a 1-0 advantage.

Liberty extended its lead to 4-0 in the third inning. Michael Just (Sr., 2B, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.) and Grijalva opened the inning with singles. Laurent (Sr., LF, Cantrall, Ill.) followed with a double high off the wall in left center field, chasing home both Just and Grijalva for a 3-0 advantage. Two batters later, a sharp single up the middle by P.K. Keller (So., CF, St. Petersburg, Fla.) brought Laurent with the Flames’ third run of the frame.

The Flames added a run in the fifth inning. After Just singled to lead off frame, Laurent doubled for the second time on the day to score the second baseman and put Liberty up, 5-0.

Meanwhile, Solbach (r-So., RHP, Woodbridge, Va.) held the Red Foxes scoreless through eight innings to run his record to 4-0 on the season. The right-hander allowed six hits, all singles, and struck out four.

In the ninth inning, Marist rallied for four runs on RBI singles by second baseman Kyle Meyers and shortstop Pat Feeney, a fielder’s choice and a throwing error by the catcher, however, Liberty reliever Tim John (Jr., RHP, Linwood, N.J.) worked his way out of the inning by striking out a Red Fox hitter with a runner on first to end the game.

Marist starter Jacob Wiley (0-1) picked up his first loss of the season, allowing four runs and eight hits in three innings.

Three Flames had multiple hit games as Keller was 3-for-4 on the day with a RBI, while Gaillard had two hits in the game and for the second straight day, Laurent had two hits and drove in three runs. Feeney, with three hits, and third baseman John Mazello, with two hits, had multiple hit games for the Red Foxes.

Liberty continues its five-game home stand Friday as the Flames begin a three-game weekend series with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m.

[PAmedic]

not to be an alarmist, but thats 2 games in a row our closers or late inning guys have been suspect. That could bite us later on this season.

[A.G.]

Always the pessimist, aren't we!!

[PAmedic]

I'm so stunned to see STEVEV being incredibly positive and optimistic that I felt I had to take his former viewpoint on things just to balance it out!

[Stevev]

It is easy to be an optimist when things are going our way, a 16-3 record, and ranked 43. Nice to see an LU team other than the lady hoops team do well for a change. Got to take down Rutgers this weekend at home to keep up our momentum. Hopefully a closer can develope before we head into the conference schedule.

[PAmedic]

agreed- see the Movin up thread-