April 2, 2009
BOX SCORE: Longwood 3, Norfolk State 2
BOX SCORE: Longwood 7, Norfolk State 2
NORFOLK, Va. – Longwood swept a pair of softball games against Norfolk State University, winning the first game 3-2 and the second game 7-2 on Thursday evening in Norfolk.
Nichole Simmons/Chesapeake (Hickory) went 5-for-6, scoring two runs and driving in two more with three doubles and two stolen bases to lead the Lancers offensively. Longwood improves to 13-14 while Norfolk State falls to 12-17. The Lancers return to action on Sunday, April 5, when they host a doubleheader with East Tennessee State University beginning at 1 p.m.
Longwood jumped on top quickly in the first game when Simmons scored on an error on a ball hit by
Emily Radford/Tacoma, Wash. (Fife). The Lancers added another run in the top of the third inning when
Brittany Matthews/Farmville (Prince Edward), who was running for
Tricia Nelson/Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield), scored on a
Courtney Long/Mechanicsville (Hanover) single. NSU tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning when Meghan Ramsey hit a two-run double off
Brittany Spencer/Virginia Beach (First Colonial). Longwood went ahead for good in the top of the sixth inning when
Maggie Margadonna/Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) scored on an
Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) double, giving the Lancers a 3-2 lead. Spencer held them scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning and
Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) entered in the seventh inning to get the last three outs. Spencer gave up two runs on two hits in six innings, striking out eight and walking four while picking up the win. Wells earned a save after giving up one hit and striking out three.
The Lancers scored first in the second game as well, with
Brittney Latka/Purcellville (Loudon Valley) scoring on a Radford double. Radford scored on a Matthews double and then Matthews came around to score on a Simmons double. Simmons scored on a Nelson single to right field. The Lancers held a 4-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings. NSU got one back in the bottom of the second inning, making the score 4-1. Longwood added another run in the top of the third inning with
Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) scoring on a Betterton single, giving the Lancers a 5-1 lead.
Lashunda Davis/Natalie, Va. (Halifax County) led off the fourth inning with her third home run of the season, giving Longwood a 6-1 lead. Norfolk State got one run back in the bottom of the fifth inning but Simmons drove in her second run of the game in the top of the sixth to give Longwood the 7-2 lead. Wells pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out nine.
Betterton went 3-for-7 with two RBI and one double. Davis went 3-for-6, scoring two runs and hitting the only home run of the day. Wells went 1-0 and picked up a save while striking out 12 in eight innings.
Norfolk State pitcher Elizabeth Castaneda pitched 5.2 innings in the two games, giving up only one run on three hits.
