Softball Game Preview: Liberty Chargers vs. Tohopekaliga Tigers

The Liberty Chargers will head out on the road to face off against the Tohopekaliga Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Liberty has given up an average of 21 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Liberty lost 23-8 to Innovation on Thursday.

Meanwhile, while Tohopekaliga put up plenty of runs on Tuesday, the same can't be said for Poinciana. The Tigers were the clear victors by an 18-0 margin over the Eagles. That looming 18-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Tigers yet this season.

Maria Santiago was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring two runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season.

In other batting news, Yaritza Malagon was a standout: she scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-3. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in RBI (three). Another player making a difference was Jessilyn Diaz, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.

Tohopekaliga kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in five consecutive matches.

Liberty's defeat dropped their record down to 1-6. As for Tohopekaliga, the win got them back to even at 5-5.

Liberty couldn't quite get it done against Tohopekaliga in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 as they fell 14-10. Can the Chargers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.