February 16, 2010

BOX SCORE: South Carolina 5, Longwood 1
BOX SCORE: South Carolina 9, Longwood 2

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Longwood University softball team fell at the University of South Carolina 5-1 in the first game and 9-2 in the second game of a season-opening doubleheader. The Lancers were led by junior Kami Nuckols/Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) who went 2-for-6 with a double and scored two runs. Longwood returns to action on Friday, February 19, when they host Towson University at 1 p.m. and Morehead State University at 3 p.m. at Lancer Field in Farmville.

Longwood gave up two runs in the bottom of the second inning and two more in the third inning to fall behind 4-0. South Carolina added one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Longwood answered with one run in the top of the sixth inning when sophomore Courtney Long/Mechanicsville (Hanover) drew a bases-loaded walk to score Nuckols. Junior Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) started in the circle in the first game and pitched four innings, giving up five runs on eight hits while walking four. Lauren Lackey went 2-for-2 and scored one run with two RBI in the first game.

The Gamecocks struck early in the second game, scoring four runs in the first and three in the second inning. Longwood answered with two runs in the top of the third inning, the first coming when senior Amy Betteron/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) scored on a Tricia Nelson/Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) double to left-center field. Nuckols scored her second run of the day when junior Nichole Simmons/Chesapeake (Hickory) singled to centerfield and Nuckols scored from second base. Wells got the start in the circle again but was replaced by freshman Brooke Short/Altavista (Altavista) who pitched four inning and gave up two runs, none earned, on three hits while striking out three.