April 2, 2006
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
HAMPTON, Va. – Longwood University swept a college softball doubleheader against host Hampton University Sunday afternoon at the Lady Pirates Field in Hampton. The Lancers took a 5-2 decision in the opener and then earned a 6-5 win in the nightcap. The Lancers, who have now won five-straight, improved their overall record to 18-18 on the season, while the Lady Pirates dropped to 21-14 on the year. LU will be back in action on Thursday, April 3 when it plays a doubleheader at Big South Conference member Liberty. The first game is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.
In the opener, Longwood used a two-hit, three run third inning to break the scoreless tie. With freshman pitcher/first baseman Denee Porter/Glendale, Ariz. (Sandra Day O’Connor) on second base, sophomore outfielder Caitlin Hooe/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) hit a double to left center to score Porter. Hooe added the second run of the inning when, after stealing third, she scored on a fielding error by Hampton’s first baseman Kera Mathes. Another error, this time a fielding error by the Lady Pirates shortstop Camille Whittaker, led to the Lancers third run of the inning. Freshman outfielder Danielle Skapura/Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood) scored on the Hampton miscue.
The Lady Pirates cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Maggie Wolf hit a two-run home run off Porter, who had replaced Lancer starting pitcher sophomore Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) in the beginning of the inning.
Longwood bounced back, scoring one run in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the three-run victory. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty) started off the sixth inning with a home run; her seventh of the season, while Hooe, who hit a two-out double in the seventh inning, accounted for the Lancers final run as she scored on a single hit by Skapura.
Mills earned the victory for Longwood, giving up no runs on one hit, while striking out one in five innings of work.
In the nightcap, Longwood again jumped out on top early, this time using a three-hit, three run second inning to take the lead. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hooe singled to right field to score both sophomore outfielder Kristina Garrison/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) and junior first baseman Tori Flint/Charlottesville (Albemarle County). Skapura followed with a single of her own to score freshman third baseman Kori Bonner/Round Hill (Loudoun Valley).
The Lancers extended their lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning. Garrison started off the inning with a home run to left center; her first collegiate home run. Ryan Washington added the second run of the inning with a double to left center that drove in Hooe.
A run by Hampton in the bottom half of the fourth cut Longwood’s lead to 5-1, but a run by the Lancers in the top of the fifth inning pushed their advantage to 6-1.
The Lady Pirates used a three-hit, four run sixth inning to get within one of the Lancers. With two runners on, Mathes homered to left center to slice LU’s lead to 6-4. A sacrifice bunt by Brittany Davis scored Angela Balser and at the end of the sixth Hampton trailed just 6-5.
Hampton managed to get two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Mills forced Mathes to hit into a 6-4-3 double-play to end the game.
Mills again earned the victory for the Lancers, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out two and walking one.
