March 27, 2004
BOX SCORE GAME #1
BOX SCORE GAME #2
HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Longwood University swept a collegiate softball doubleheader at Coker College Saturday in South Carolina, winning the first game 5-0 and the second game 8-0. The Lancers have won seven-straight, and 12 of their last 13 games, to improve their overall record to 26-10. Longwood will remain in South Carolina to play again Sunday (March 28), a 2 p.m. doubleheader at NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina University of the Big South Conference.
At Coker in the opener, Longwood scored two runs in the 2nd inning and added three more runs in the 4th inning en route to the shutout. Senior Heather Williams/Brookneal(Appomattox Co.) (1-4, RBI) provided the game-winning run with her sixth home run of the spring to lead-off the 2nd inning. Collecting two hits each toward the 10-hit effort were juniors Megan Camden/Bedford (Liberty) (2-3, RBI) and Jen Steele/Manassas Park (Manassas Park) (2-3), along with sophomore Mallory Gordon/Powhatan (Powhatan Co.) (2-4), and freshman Abbey Welch/LaPlata, Md. (McDonough) (2-3, RBI). Welch had an RBI triple in the 4th, while Steele added a double. The duo also combined for the pitching shutout as Steele (12-6) earned the win with the first 3.0 innings, scattering three hits with two strikeouts. Welch went the final 4.0 innings in relief, yielding no hits with one strikeout.
In the nightcap, Longwood scored six runs over its final three at-bats for the eight-run victory in six innings. Camden (2-4, RBI) scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the 3rd inning after reaching on a double. Steele (2-4, RBI) and sophomore Shamana Washington/Rhoadesville (Orange Co.) (2-4, RBI) each hit solo home runs for the Lancers, their respective team-leading seventh home run each this season -- Steele's in the 4th inning and Washington's in the 5th inning. Also adding two hits to the 13-hit attack were Gordon (2-4, RBI) and junior Alishia Stewart/Faber (Nelson Co.) (2-3). Gordon had a double among her two hits. Welch (14-4) earned the mound win with the first 5.0 innings, allowing just one hit with six strikeouts, while Steele tossed the final 1.0 hitless inning of relief.
