Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BUIES CREEK, S.C. – Senior Brooke Short/Hurt totaled six RBI on four hits (.500), as the Longwood University softball team split a doubleheader at Big South Conference opponent Campbell University (37-18, 18-5 BSC) on Saturday. The Lancers (35-17, 15-8 BSC) led by one heading into the seventh inning in game one, but a two-run, walk-off home run gave the Fighting Camels the 7-6 decision. In game two of the twin bill, Campbell scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings, but Longwood notched the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth en route to a 6-5 victory. Sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii added to the offensive effort with a team-best .625 (5-8) average on the day. Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford also recorded five hits in the pair of games, while logging a 1.000 slugging percentage. Sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn registered the win in the circle for Longwood with seven strikeouts in nine innings pitched. Longwood and Campbell will play their regular-season finale tomorrow, Sunday, May 5, beginning at 2 p.m.

Longwood struck first in game one, taking an early 1-0 advantage. Nishitomi tagged a leadoff double to straight-away center and Baltzell followed with a two-bagger of her own to put the Lancers on the board.

After both sides were retired in order in the second, Nishitomi got things started again for the Lancers in the top of the third, as she legged out an infield base hit. Baltzell followed with a hit through the right side to put runners on the corners. On the next play, Baltzell stole second and drew the throw, allowing Nishitomi to break towards the plate and score despite taking a hard tag to give Longwood a 2-0 edge. Short added a two-run home run in the inning to pull ahead, 4-0.

Campbell erased the deficit in the home half of the inning. The Fighting Camels recorded a leadoff double before a high fly dropped in to put runners on second and third. A double to left center scored both runs and the squad logged a two-run long ball to knot the game at 4-4.

In the fifth, Nishitomi doubled off the wall in left field. Baltzell followed with a single through the right side and Longwood took advantage of the throw to the cutoff, as Baltzell dove safely into second and Nishitomi crossed the plate to give the Lancers a 5-4 lead. However, Campbell quickly tied the score once again, this time with a solo shot over the wall in left. CU added two more hits in the at-bat, but Longwood was able to keep the stalemate intact with a double play around the horn and a strikeout from Short.

Sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California (2-8, 2 RBI) walked to start the sixth and freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-7) reached on a fielding error, but both were left stranded. Campbell went three up and three down in the bottom of the inning to maintain the 5-5 tie. In the seventh, Nishitomi singled down the left field line and stole second, representing the go-ahead run. Short followed with a single up the middle to plate Nishitomi and give Longwood a 6-5 edge. In the Fighting Camels' final chance at the plate, the leadoff batter reached on an error. Longwood recorded two consecutive groundouts, but a two-out homer to left field gave Campbell the walk-off 7-6 victory.

In the nightcap, Longwood jumped ahead in the first inning once again. Nishitomi got things started when she reached on an error and advanced to third on a single by Baltzell. Short then recorded the RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Lancers on top, 1-0. The Fighting Camels were quickly retired in the bottom of the inning and neither side was able to plate a run in the second, but Longwood added a pair of runs in the third. Sophomore Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth (0-3, 1 run) and Nishitomi opened the inning with back-to-back walks before Baltzell reached on an error to load the bases for Short, who logged a two-RBI single through the left side, giving the Lancers a 3-0 lead.

The Fighting Camels left a pair of runners stranded in the bottom of the third and left one on in the fourth, as the squad was still unable to get on the board. Longwood made the score 4-0 in the top of the fifth when Baltzell ripped a two-out home run to center. Campbell cut the buffer to just one in the home half of the inning with three runs on three hits to make it a 4-3 game.

The Lancers added to its lead in the sixth, as freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach reached on a throwing error and advanced all the way to third before Sciacca singled up the middle to score the run. Campbell went three up and three down in the bottom of the inning, but rallied in the seventh to extend the game. The squad loaded the bases with a walk and a pair of singles before knocking in runs on a base hit and a sacrifice fly to make it 5-5 and push the game into extra innings. Neither side was able to make any noise in the eighth inning, but Longwood scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. Nishitomi and Short got on board with singles and Murphy walked to load the bases. Sciacca sent a hard hit ball to the shortstop, but Nishitomi beat the throw home. Longwood then used a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to secure the 6-5 decision.