March 25, 2011

Box Score: Cornell 4, Longwood 2 (8)
Box Score: Longwood 9, Cornell 1 (6)

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Cornell University of the Ivy League, falling 4-2 in eight innings in the first game before winning the second game 9-1 in six innings on Friday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville. Longwood (16-7) was led by sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) who went 3-for-5 with four RBI on the day, while sophomore Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) went 2-for-6 with a three-run walkoff home run in the second game against the Big Red (7-11-1). The win was the 500th career victory for Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. The Lancers return to action on Saturday, March 26, when they host a doubleheader against Hampton University at 1 p.m. at Lancer Field in Farmville.

In the first game, Longwood took the 1-0 lead after a two-out solo home run by senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) (1-4, HR) in the bottom of the third inning. Cornell answered with a pair of runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning to take the 2-1 lead. Senior pitcher Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (1-3, HR) helped her own cause when she hit a leadoff home run in the fifth inning to tie the game 2-2. Lauren Bucolo (2-3, 2B, 2 runs), placed on second base due to the International Tiebreaker Rule, scored on a two-run home run by Kristen Towne (3-4, 2 RBI) in the top of the eighth inning to push the Big Red ahead 4-2.

Wells (13-7, 1.85 ERA) received the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on 10 hits with six strikeouts in eight innings. Elizabeth Dalrymple (4-3) earned the win after giving up two runs on two hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings.

In the second game, Simmons (1-2, 2 runs) walked to start the inning and then stole second base. She advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a RBI single by Short (3-4, 4 RBI) through the right side. The Lancers added three runs in the third inning. Freshman Leta Bressin|Gloucester (Gloucester) (1-3, 2 runs) slapped an infield single to start the inning and advanced to second on a groundout. Senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (0-3, 2 runs) reached on an error and Bressin advanced to third. Bressin scored on another RBI single through the right side by Short. Cox (2-4, HR, 4 RBI) drove in Margadonna with a RBI single up the middle. Lauren Marx replaced Alyson Onyon and walked senior Tricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) (0-1, 2BB) to load the bases. Junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (0-2, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Short and give Longwood the 4-0 lead. The Lancers added two runs in the fourth inning that started with a two-out double by Simmons. Margadonna reached on an error and both runners scored on a two-RBI double to right-center field by Short to put Longwood ahead 6-0. Cornell scored one run in the fifth inning when Marissa Amiraian (2-3, RBI) singled up the middle to score Ali Tomlinson (0-1). The Lancers scored three runs in the sixth on a three-run walkoff home run by Cox to right-center field that scored Bressin and freshman Amy Putnam|Poquoson (Poquoson) (0-0, BB).

Wells earned the victory after giving up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in five innings. Sophomore Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) (0-0, 0.00 ERA) pitched a perfect sixth inning. Onyon (0-1) received the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on four hits in 2.1 innings.