BASEBALL MOVES TO 3-0 IN BIG SOUTH
The Flames opened conference play with a series sweep of UNC-Asheville last weekend. Two of the three games were won by 1 run. Liberty took their 3 game win streak on the road to Duke for a showdown Tuesday evening. The Blue Devils used a 4-run 6th inning to gain control, eventually winning by a score of 6-1. The Flames enter the weekend with a 16-11 overall record and 3-0 mark in Big South play. Liberty is at Winthrop for a 3 game series this weekend.
FLAMES PICK UP TRANSFER FROM BRADLEY
Liberty has landed a commitment from Scottie James. James is a 6’8″ freshman forward who attended Bradley this past season. He will have to sit out the 2016-17 year and will have 3 seasons of eligibility remaining. James played in 30 games as a true freshman with the Braves this season, starting 3. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while finishing 5th on the team with 11 blocked shots. The 6’8″ forward knocked down 25.7% of his 35 3-point attempts. James is originally from Tarpon Springs, Florida where he attended Tarpon Springs High School. He scored more than 1,500 career points and grabbed over 1,000 career rebounds during his high school career. As a senior, he averaged 19.5 points, 14 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He picked Bradley over offers from Wofford and Florida Gulf Coast. This marks the 2nd straight season the Flames have picked up a transfer from Bradley, as James joins Anthony Fields who transferred from Bradley last year.
Scottie James
Forward
SPRING PRACTICE CONTINUES
The Flames are about one-third of the way through the 2016 spring football season. While the practices are closed to the public, Coach Gill remarked this week on how pleased he is with the defense and the way they have been “flying around.” Coach Gill made special mention of JUCO transfer Solomon McGinty as one guy that has stood out so far. McGinty enrolled at Liberty for this semester and is listed as starter at the Spur safety position. Be sure to stay up to date with all of the spring practice updates, including this week’s spring practice notebook, photo gallery, and The Search: Offensive Coordinator.
SOFTBALL IMPROVES TO 5-1 IN BIG SOUTH
The Lady Flames took 2 out of 3 games at Coastal Carolina to improve to 5-1 in Big South play this season, matching the program’s best start in league play since 2007. Liberty stepped out of conference play where they split a double header with Virginia Tech on Wednesday, winning the 2nd game by a score of 2-1. The Lady Flames travel to Farmville early next week for a 3-game series with defending Big South champ and preseason favorite Longwood.
WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH RESIGNS
Liberty’s women’s soccer coach Jessica Hain resigned this week. Hain has been the head coach since 2008 and had an 83-62-18 career record in 8 seasons including a 46-25-8 mark in Big South play. She led the Lady Flames to Big South regular season titles in 2009, 2014, and 2015 and Big South Conference Tournament championships in 2013 and 2015. Athletics Director Jeff Barber announced a national search for the seventh head coach in the program’s history has begun.
FLAMEFANS THREAD OF THE WEEK
This week’s FlameFans thread of the week is 2016 NCAAM March Madness.
