March 4, 2008
GAME 1
GAME 2
FARMVILLE, Va. - Longwood University softball won both games of its double-header against Hampton on Tuesday afternoon, winning game one 4-0 and game two 9-1 after six innings. The Lancers improve to 10-5 on the season and return to action on March 8, when they participate in the Kentucky/Frostbite Classic III in Lexington, Ky. The Lancers were led by senior center fielder Caitlin Hooe/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) who hit 3-5 on the day, including a grand-slam in game two.
The Lancers got on the board first in game one, taking a quick 2-0 lead after a throwing error allowed senior Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty) and freshman Kami Nuckols/Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) to score. Hampton’s defense would compose itself, holding Longwood to the two run advantage until the fourth inning.
Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) would jump start the Lancer offense in the bottom of the fourth inning, reaching base on a single to the center fielder. Freshman Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) would come into pinch run for Betterton after she reached second base on a Kristina Garrison/Alexandria (Mount Vernon) single. On the next pitch Ketsdever would steal third and advance home on a throwing error by the catcher, while Garrison would move to third. Garrison would make her way home courtesy of a single to right by Hooe.
Senior Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) would pitch four innings for Longwood in game one, picking up her third win on the season and her first win of the day. In game one Mills struck out six, including three straight, while only walking one. Mills would also capture the win in the second game, improving to 4-3 on the season after pitching four more innings for the Lancers, striking out three.
Game two proved to be a much sloppier game with both teams committing three errors. Longwood would once again draw first blood when Hooe came around to score in the first inning, reaching on a double and scoring on a fielding error.
Longwood would take a 3-0 lead in the third inning, when Hooe once again came home on a Hampton error. Nuckols would follow suit, scoring after Catelyn Slagle/Chesapeake (Greenbrier) grounded out to the short stop. Hampton would not go down without a fight, scoring its lone goal of the game in the top of the fourth, with Jada Jeffries coming around to score for the Pirates.
The Lancers would answer back in the bottom of the fourth inning with freshman Tricia Nelson/Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) getting things started with a single to center. Fellow freshmen Brittany Matthews/Farmville (Prince Edward) and Brittany Spencer/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) would follow Nelson’s lead and singling to the outfield, loading up the bases. Hooe would take full advantage of the situation clearing the bases with a bullet hit over the fence in left center. The home run is Hooe’s first of the season and 14th of her career.
Longwood would score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, giving them a 9-1 advantage, which was enough to call the game due to the NCAA mercy rule. Spencer and Hooe would score the Lancers final two runs.
