Lady Flames to Open Athens Regional Against No. 25 Charlotte
5/15/2024 4:01:00 PM | Softball
The Liberty Softball team is set to make its fourth NCAA Regional appearance in a row.
Liberty (36-23) will open competition at the 2024 NCAA Division I Softball Championship on Friday, playing in the Athens Regional against No. 25 Charlotte (38-16) on Friday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+. The No. 11 national seed, Georgia (39-16), will host the four-team regional, Friday through Sunday, at Turner Softball Stadium. In the other side, No. 11 seed Georgia will face UNCW (33-21), Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Coverage
Easton Stadium
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Liberty vs. Charlotte – 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 11 Georgia vs. UNCW – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser – 3:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 5: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner – 6 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Regional Final – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 winner – TBA
Game 7: * if necessary – Rematch of Game 6 – TBA
2024 NCAA ATHENS REGIONAL TICKET INFORMATION
General Admission Tickets: $25 all session / $10 daily
All Session Tickets
Only sold in advance of the tournament online.
Single-Game Tickets
Available for purchase online beginning Wednesday, May 15 at 9 a.m. ET
Liberty (36-23) will open competition at the 2024 NCAA Division I Softball Championship on Friday, playing in the Athens Regional against No. 25 Charlotte (38-16) on Friday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+. The No. 11 national seed, Georgia (39-16), will host the four-team regional, Friday through Sunday, at Turner Softball Stadium. In the other side, No. 11 seed Georgia will face UNCW (33-21), Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Coverage
- TV: ESPN+
- Radio: LFSN Radio
- Live Stats: NCAA.com
- Tournament Bracket
Easton Stadium
Friday, May 17
Game 1: Liberty vs. Charlotte – 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 11 Georgia vs. UNCW – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser – 3:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 5: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner – 6 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Sunday, May 19
Game 6: Regional Final – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 winner – TBA
Game 7: * if necessary – Rematch of Game 6 – TBA
2024 NCAA ATHENS REGIONAL TICKET INFORMATION
General Admission Tickets: $25 all session / $10 daily
All Session Tickets
Only sold in advance of the tournament online.
Single-Game Tickets
Available for purchase online beginning Wednesday, May 15 at 9 a.m. ET
- Liberty rallied back after losing its first game at the 2024 CUSA Softball Championship, winning four straight elimination games including the winner-take-all final against WKU. The Lady Flames are making their fourth straight NCAA Regional appearance.
- The Athens Regional is the only Regional this season with three teams in the top 32 in RPI, in Georgia (9), Charlotte (25) and Liberty (32). Georgia will be looking to make its second straight Super Regional, as the Bulldogs won their home Regional last season before falling at Florida State in Supers.
- Liberty and Charlotte rank second and third, respectively, in nonconference strength of schedule. The Lady Flames have posted four wins over Top 25 teams (at time of meeting) this year, tying a program record for Top 25 wins set last year. Meanwhile, the 49ers have three Top 25 wins this season and enter the postseason on a 16-game winning streak that included an AAC Tournament title.
- Liberty will be facing Charlotte for the second time this season. The Lady Flames knocked off the then No. 21-ranked 49ers 6-5 on March 20 in Lynchburg. The Lady Flames are 1-1 all-time against Georgia in softball, with both meetings coming in the 2022 NCAA Durham Regional. Liberty is 15-6 against UNCW, with the Lady Flames winning the most recent meeting in the 2017 NISC Lynchburg Regional.
- For the season, Rachel Roupe (.368) leads the CUSA in doubles (17), on base percentage (.514) and OPS (1.312) and is tied for second in homers (17). Mary Claire Wilson (.284) has scored 39 runs, while KK Madrey (.279) is fourth in the CUSA with 17 steals. Brynn McManus bats .278 and hit Liberty's first grand slam of the season, last Thursday. Raigan Barrett bats .277, while Megan Fortner (.249) is second on the team with 11 home runs. Sierra Kersten (.227) is second on the team with 30 RBI.
- Elena Escobar (14-5, 2.64) and Kaylan Yoder (11-9, 2.75) rank second and fourth, respectively, in the CUSA in ERA. Yoder leads the league with a .211 opponents batting average and is second with 135 strikeouts. Katie Love (7-4, 3.64) has tossed three shutouts this season, including a no-hitter versus Jax State on March 16 and a six-hitter at Virginia on April 9.
Players Mentioned
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