March 9, 2007 

BOX SCORE

LAS VEGAS, Nev.-- Longwood University softball was unable recover from an early 2-0 deficit, falling to New Mexico 2-1, in its opening game of the Eller Media Stadium Classic Friday afternoon.  The Lancers (8-3) were led by Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty) who finished the game going 2-2 with  a walk and brought in the lone run for Longwood.  The Lancers will face Portland State in their second game of the day at 2:15 p.m.

The Aggies pressed the Longwood defense in their opening at bat, loading the bases one out in the bottom of the first inning.  The Lancers however, worked themselves out of it turning a double play with the force at home to keep the game scoreless after one.  With runners at second and third and two outs, Kristi Randall hit a double to left field, bringing in both runners to give the Aggies the 2-0 lead.  Starting pitcher Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) was replaced by Ashley Forsyth/Freehold, N.J. (Freehold) in the middle of the inning and finished with two runs, neither were earned, on three hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Longwood was able to cut the deficit to one run in the top of the fourth inning as Washington’s RBI  single to left field brought in Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) from third base to bring the Lancers within one.  Ketsdever hit a lead-off infield single, and reached second on a wild pitch and got to third on a throwing error by the catcher.

With one out and the tying run at first, Washington moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicole Hamill/Greenville, N.C. (Farmville Central) but tried to take third and was thrown out ending the threat.

The Lancers threatened in the seventh inning after Emily Radford/Tacoma, Wash. (Fife) drew a one out walk and moved to second on sacrifice bunt from Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) but New Mexico got Longwood’s next batter to ground out ending the game.  Forsyth pitched the final 4.1 innings and surrendered three hits while walking one and fanning two batters along the way.