LIVERMORE — Senior day for the Livermore High softball team was a chance for its lone senior — Kelly Kiefer — to play one final time on her home field. The Cowboys sent Kiefer off a winner, beating Foothill 8-2 on Thursday and keeping alive their chances for a possible East Bay Athletic League title.

Before the game, the Cowboys were full of spirit and confidence, making it hard to believe they would be facing the No.3 team in the East Bay. It was that energy that helped send Kiefer off with a smile.

"We thought we were going to beat them going in because we were so pumped-up," Livermore first baseman Sammy McConvey said.

A loss to the Falcons would have been a heartbreaker for the Cowboys, who lost to Foothill twice this season.

"Losing three times to (Foothill) would be bad," McConvey said. "It would be embarrassing if we lost to them again."

Livermore took a 3-0 lead in the third. With one out and the bases loaded, Kiefer battled through a nine-pitch at-bat for a walk to drive in the first run. One out later with the bases still loaded, McConvey broke it open with a two-run single to right.

The Falcons (15-7, 8-2) cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth on a two-run single by Kelly Sweeney.

Foothill wasn't able to get any closer. Livermore scored five runs with two outs in the fourth. Getting that last out in the fourth proved to be a challenge for the Falcons.

"They beat us with their two-out hits," Foothill coach

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Matt Sweeney said.

Jessica Varady, Caitlin Taylor and Stephanie Gilbert all had RBI singles in the fifth to put the Cowboys up 6-2. Then with runners on first and second, McConvey worked her magic with the bat again, lashing a two-run triple to left.

"We've been practicing a lot with our hitting," McConvey said. "We were all on today."

Second looks were the key to Livermore's hitting, according to coach Bill Keller. The team only managed one hit off Foothill's Keri Ball the first time through the order but figured out Ball's pitches the second time through.

"After the girls got the second look on (Ball), they knew what to expect," Keller said. "I think our girls are just peaking at the right time."