February 26, 2006
BOX SCOREFARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University earned a 7-1 victory over visiting Norfolk State this afternoon at Lancer Field to close out the Longwood Softball Classic. The Lancers, who won all three games it played during the classic, improved their record to 3-5, while the Spartans dropped their overall record to 1-4. Longwood will be back in action on Tuesday, February 28 when it welcomes Furman to Farmville for a doubleheader. The first game is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.
The Lancers jumped out on top early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, junior outfielder/catcher Pepper Wilson/Mechanicsville (Lee-Davis) doubled and then scored on a RBI single hit to center field by sophomore shortstop Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty). After senior outfielder Shamana Washington/Rhoadesville (Orange County) singled, freshman third baseman Kori Bonner/Round Hill (Loudoun Valley) cracked a two RBI single to increase LU’s lead to 3-0.
Senior Victoria Masters/Lake City, Fla. (Thomas University-Ga.) drove in Shamana Washington with a ground-out to Norfolk State’s second baseman, while a double by sophomore outfielder Kristina Garrison/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) scored senior second baseman Mallory Gordon/Powhatan (Powhatan) to give the Lancers a 5-0 lead after three innings.
The Spartans broke-up the Lancers shutout in the top of the fourth when Ashley Archer scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Erica Tillar.
Two runs in the bottom of the fourth increased Longwood’s winning score to 7-1. Wilson scored off a single by Shamana Washington, while Ryan Washington was driven home on a single by Gordon.
Sophomore pitcher Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) and senior pitcher Tori Flint/Charlottesville (Albemarle County) combined for the Lancer win. Mills gave up two hits, while striking out two and walking one in three innings of work, while Flint gave up one run on four hits and striking out four in four innings of action.
Natasha Steele took the pitching loss for the Spartans, giving up seven runs on 13 hits, while striking out three and walking one.
