March 9, 2010

BOX SCORE: LONGWOOD 5, VIRGINIA 3
BOX SCORE: LONGWOOD 1, VIRGINIA 0

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University swept a pair of softball games from the University of Virginia of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday afternoon, winning the first game 5-3 and the second game 1-0 at Lancer Field in Farmville. Junior Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) earned the win in both games and gave up three runs, only one earned, and scattered eight hits over 14 innings. Senior Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) laced an RBI single up the middle in the sixth inning of the second game, driving home the game's only run. The Lancers (11-7) return to action on Saturday, March 13, when they face UNC Wilmington and Gardner-Webb University in Rock Hill, South Carolina as part of the Winthrop/adidas Invitational.

In the first game, the Lancers fell behind early as Virginia (8-9) scored in the top of the second inning and added another run in the top of the third inning. Longwood answered in the bottom of the third inning when senior Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) (1-3, RBI) scored from third base on a wild pitch. Junior Maggie Margadonna/Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (1-3, 2 RBI) singled up the middle to drive in junior Brittany Matthews/Farmville (Prince Edward) and sophomore Ashley Kramer/Ashburn (Broad Run) (1-2). The Lancers added two more runs in the fifth inning when Simmons scored on a Ketsdever single. Wells had her at-bat extended when the catcher dropped a foul ball and singled down the right field line to score Kramer and give the Lancers a 5-2 lead. Sarah Tacke hit a leadoff home run in the sixth inning but Longwood would hold on to win 5-3.

Wells pitched the complete game and gave up three runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts.

Melanie Mitchell gave up five runs, four earned, in six innings in the loss. Sarah Tacke went 2-for-2 with one RBI at the plate for the Cavaliers.

Runs were harder to come by in the second game as neither team could put together hits. Longwood threatened in the bottom of the third inning when Margadonna (1-3) and freshman Brooke Short/Altavista (Altavista) (3-3, 2 doubles) each singled with two outs but Nichole Simmons/Chesapeake (Hickory) fouled out to the first baseman to end the threat. The Lancers finally broke through in the sixth inning when Short led off with a double down the right field line. Simmons laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Short to third and then Betterton (2-3, RBI) singled up the middle to drive Short home and give Longwood the 1-0 lead. Wells struck out the first two Cavaliers she faced in the seventh and got the final batter to pop up to second base to seal the victory.

Wells gave up two hits while striking out five in seven innings of work in the win. Nicole Koren was saddled with the loss after scattering seven hits with five strikeouts. Tacke and Clara Kendall each had one hit for the Cavaliers.