April 1, 2006
Game One Box ScoreGame Two Box ScoreFARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University swept a college softball doubleheader against visiting Howard University Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field. The Lancers earned a 4-0 victory in the opener and then took a 5-4 decision in the nightcap. With the two victories, Longwood improved its overall record to 16-18, while the Lady Bison fell to 14-15 on the season. LU will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 2 when it plays a doubleheader at Hampton. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m
In the opener, the Lancers scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump out on top. Sophomore center fielder Caitlin Hooe/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) started the inning with a double to centerfield. Hooe then advanced to third on a ground out to second base by freshman outfielder Danielle Skapura/Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood) and scored when senior outfielder Shamana Washington/Rhoadesville (Orange County) hit a double down the right field line. Junior catcher/outfielder Pepper Wilson/Mechanicsville (Lee-Davis) drove in Shamana Washington on the next play with a single to give LU the two-run lead.
Longwood added one run in the bottom of the second inning to increase its lead to 3-0. With the bases loaded, Skapura reached on a fielder’s choice which in-turn scored sophomore designated player Kristina Garrison/Alexandria (Mount Vernon).
The Lancers scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Wilson again singled home Shamana Washington, who had started off the inning with her second double of the game.
Sophomore pitcher Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) earned the shutout victory for LU. Mills allowed only two hits, while striking out three and walking one in seven full innings of work.
Dale McNeal took the pitching loss for the Bison, giving up four runs on six hits, while striking out two and walking one.
In the nightcap, Howard broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning when Jennifer Bien-Aime, who had started off the inning with a triple to centerfield, scored on a ground-rule double by Kristina Cordova.
Longwood tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a strong effort by sophomore shortstop Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty). Ryan Washington started off the inning with a single up the middle and then stole second and third base on consecutive pitches to Shamana Washington. Freshman catcher Emily Radford/Tacoma, Wash. (Fife) then laid down a bunt that scored Ryan Washington to knot the game at 1-1.
The Lancers took a 3-1 lead two batters later when Radford and freshman pitcher Denee Porter/Glendale, Ariz. (Sandra Day O’Connor) both scored on a catching error by Bison second baseman Sondra Jones.
It was Ryan Washington who increased Longwood’s lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning. She again started off the inning with a single, moved over to second on a ground out to the pitcher by Shamana Washington, took third on a passed ball and then stole home.
Longwood scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Hooe walked to bring in Porter.
Howard made things interesting in the top of the seventh. A single by pinch hitter Semplecia Scott scored pinch hitter Sukai Curtis-Contreras, who was on third, and a throwing error by Radford allowed Larcus Pickett to score and slice LU’s lead to 5-3. Bien-Aime cracked single to centerfield to drive in Sondra Jones, but Hooe relayed the ball to third baseman Kori Bonner/Round Hill (Loudoun Valley) who tagged Fallon Jones out to end the game.
Porter earned the win for the Lancers, giving up eight runs on four hits, while striking out two.
