February 13, 2005
GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Longwood University dropped both games of its season-opening softball doubleheader at Furman Sunday afternoon in Greenville, S.C. The Lancers fell 4-3 in the opener and dropped a 9-4 decision in the nightcap. LU begins the season 0-2, and will continue its 2005 campaign at the University of Central Florida Tournament, February 18-20. Longwood will face Boston (9:00 a.m.) and host UCF (1:00 p.m.) on Friday, February 18, before facing North Dakota State (9:00 a.m.), Saturday February 19.
In the opener, the Lancers held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning before Furman tied the game and sent it into extra innings. Amber Nelson of Furman hit a two-run homer over the center field fence to knot the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning, before Joni Lockridge singled down the right field line in the Lady Paladin half of the eighth inning to score Blake Murray and give Furman the come-from-behind-victory.
Freshman Caitlin Hooe/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) paced the Lancers with her 1-3 performance at the plate, including two runs scored and a stolen base, while freshman Ashley Stewart/Marshville, N.C./Forrest Hills aided the offense by going 1-3 with a RBI. Senior Jen Steele/Manassas Park (Manassas) suffered the loss for Longwood, surrendering four runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings of work.
Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning in game two, Furman exploded for four runs to hold a 5-0 advantage. The Lancers battled back and scored three runs in the top of the third to slash the Lady Paladin lead to 5-3. With junior senior Megan Camden/Bedford (Liberty) on second and Becca Walker/Gainesville (Stonewall Jackson), Hooe reached on a throwing error by Furman which allowed Walker and Camden to score. Steeled capped of the three-run third when she singled to left field to score freshman Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty). A run in the bottom of the third and three more in the bottom of the sixth sealed the 9-4 victory for Furman.
Junior Shamana Washington/Rhoadesville (Orange County) led the Lancers, going 1-4, with a run scored and a RBI. She highlighted the nightcap with a solo home run in the top of the fifth; her first of the season. Freshman Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) took the loss for Longwood after surrendering four runs in just 1.1 innings of work.
