March 11, 2007

BOX SCORE

LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Longwood University softball wrapped up play at the Eller Media Stadium Classic with a 3-1 win over Harvard Saturday afternoon. The Lancers (10-5) held onto a 3-0 lead after three innings of play, allowing the Crimson to only record one run in the contest. Longwood will travel to James Madison next weekend to take part in the James Madison Tournament Saturday, March 17-Sunday, March 18.

The Lancers started out hot, as Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) doubled down the right field line with one out in the first inning. Ketsdever was brought home by Longwood’s next batter Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty) who hit an infield groundout, but gave the Lancers an early 1-0 lead.

After shutting Harvard out in the first and second innings, Longwood continued its hot hitting, as they padded their lead to three runs after three innings. Caitlin Hooe/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) got things started off in the third inning, reaching first on an error by the Harvard second baseman. Ketsdever then got her second hit of the game with a single to left field, moving Hooe over to second. Washington reached base on a fielder’s choice, and then stole second base putting both Hooe and Washington in scoring position. After an RBI groundout by Kaitlyn McKeown/Gordonsville (Orange County) and an RBI single to left field by Emily Radford/Tacoma, Wash. (Fife) the Lancers went up 3-0 after three innings.

Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) continued her strong pitching through the third as she struck out two and once again left Harvard scoreless. In the bottom of the fourth Harvard started to threaten the Longwood lead, bringing in one run, to bring the game to a two-run deficit. However Longwood’s defense and pitching was too much for the Crimson to overcome. Ashley Forsyth/Freehold, N.J. (Freehold) relieved Mills in the bottom of the fourth and finished the game surrendering five hits and one walk while fanning one batter in her second save of the season. Mills pitched three strong innings allowing only one hit for her fifth win of the year.