April 19, 2008
Game One
Game Two
FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University softball team (25-16) earned two stellar pitching performances on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Farmville, as the Lancers defeated Norfolk State 1-0 in the first game of the twinbill before earning a 5-0 victory in game two. Senior Rachel Mills/Quinton (New Kent County) threw game one picking up her 12th win of the season after picking her fourth shut-out, while freshman Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) almost came out with her first perfect game of the season, earning her fourth shut-out of the season . Longwood returns to action on Sunday, April 20 at 12 p.m. hosting Howard in a doubleheader at Lancer Field for Senior Day.
The Lancers out-hit the Spartans 5-1, while committing just one error to Norfolk States four.
Senior Caitlin Hooe/Richmond (Douglas Freeman) came around to score the lone run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, after being driven in by classmate Ryan Washington/Bealeton (Liberty).
Longwood would have the opportunity to open up the game several times, but would be unable to take advantage of runners in scoring position, leaving eight runners on base to Norfolk States two.
Defense would be the name of the game for both teams in the introductory game, as the game would go scoreless every inning after Hooe’s run. The Spartans would not be able to get their bats going as the Lancers sat down the side in five consecutive innings.
In the victory Mills struck out seven batters taking her season total to 87. Ky Brown was the losing pitcher for Norfolk State facing 27 batters and walking two.
The momentum kept going Longwood's way in the final game of the day, as the Lancers outhit Norfolk State 9-1. Norfolk State also committed three errors, two of which helped the Lancers score two of their four runs in the bottom of the third.
Hooe hit 3-4 in the game, picking up two RBI’s and coming around to score once on a solo homerun to left center. The homerun is the 5-7 seniors second of the season, tying her with Washington for the most this season. Ashely Archer had the lone hit for the Spartans, spoiling Wells perfect game in the top of the sixth.
Wells (11-7) earned some run support in the bottom of the second after classmate Kami Knuckols/Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) doubled down the left field line to score a runner. Longwood would pile on four more runs in the following inning, with Hooe’s homerun and two Spartan errors, earning four runs on four hits. Sophomore Cami Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine), Washington and freshman Nichole Simmons/Chesapeake (Hickory) would all come around to score.
Longwood’s defense would once again shine helping Wells to a perfect slate until the sixth inning, when Archer got a hold of a pitch, driving it up the middle. Wells pitched six innings for the Lancers, facing 19 batters and striking out four. Sophomore Catelyn Slagle/Chesapeake (Greenbrier Christian Academy) came in, in relief of Wells in the top of the seventh, facing four batters and striking out one.
