Liberty senior Chandie Perez hit a double and had two RBIs in her team's win over La Salle last week. (Andrew Nemec/Staff)

During a lengthy postgame meeting in the outfield at Hillsboro last week, Liberty softball coach Nolan Meeuwsen did his best to find the right motivational words.

The Falcons, who had just lost 7-6 to rival Hillsboro for their fifth defeat in a row, are a perennial playoff team not accustomed to losing streaks.

What were contending with because of our inconsistency is a confidence issue, said Meeuwsen, whose team has reached the OSAA Class 5A softball quarterfinals for the past five seasons. But one of the players actually said it best: If we find heart, then that leads to confidence and Im not sure what comes after confidence, but I know its a pretty good place.

A day after that message was delivered, Liberty beat La Salle 5-4 to snap that five-game losing streak and potentially start a winning streak.

We have the talent, Meeuwsen said. We have quality seniors and quality leaders. Weve just got to start doing things on a consistent basis.

The Northwest Oregon Conference victory over La Salle on April 8 was a better example of the type of team that Meeuwsen believes he has this spring.

Sophomore Riley Driscoll went 2 for 3 and senior Chandie Perez hit a double and had two RBIs to lead Liberty to the much-needed victory. Sophomore Maija Sands also had a hit, a walk and scored a run for Liberty (5-6, 1-1 NWOC).

La Salle took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but Liberty answered with a four-run bottom of the third. Liberty then extended its lead to 5-2 in the fifth and held La Salle to two runs in the sixth inning to hold on for the one-run victory in the matchup of the NWOCs two Falcons.

Freshman Emily Cundall earned the victory in the circle for Liberty, which is playing this season without star senior Kelly Meeuwsen because of a shoulder injury that required reconstructive surgery.

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Liberty beats La Salle to snap losing streak, increase confidence: Softball