February 29, 2004

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 collegiate softball decision to Shippensburg Sunday afternoon during the championship game of the 2004 Longwood Spring Classic. With the loss, the Lancers saw their seven-game win streak snap and fall to 9-7 on the season.  Head Coach Kathy Riley’s squad returns to action Thursday as they host Indiana (Pa.).  The doubleheader is set to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Against Shippensburg, the both teams remained scoreless through five complete innings, until Longwood gained momentum in the bottom half of the sixth inning after the Raiders intentionally walked junior Jen Steele/Manassas Park (Manassas Park), loading the bases.  Sophomore Tori Flint/Charlottesville (Albemarle) then stepped up to the plate and drove an RBI-single down the left field line, bringing in classmate Mallory Gordon/Powhatan (Powhatan) for the first run of the ballgame.

Shippensburg answered in the top frame of the seventh, as Kristen Marll drove a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Jaime Dacey to score after reaching base on a double to right centerfield.  Following Marll, Steph Reavey also drove a sacrifice fly to leftfield, bringing in Sarah Costa for the game-winning run and the title.

Flint, who led Longwood, finished the contest with a perfect two-for-two performance at the plate, including one RBI.  Washington and Gordon also finished the game with a hit apiece.  Steele (5-4) took the loss, throwing 6.1 innings with three strikeouts.

Shippensburg pitcher Nicole Brunt earned the win, pitching 0.2 innings with one strikeout, while Kelley Tiesi preserved the win and got the save after hurling one inning with two strikeouts.  Dacey paced the Raiders with her 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a run scored.