March 27, 2010

BOX SCORE: COASTAL CAROLINA 7, LONGWOOD 6
BOX SCORE: KENT STATE 5, LONGWOOD 4

CONWAY, S.C. - The Longwood University softball team dropped a pair of games on Saturday at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, falling to the host Coastal Carolina University 7-6 before dropping a 5-4 decision to Kent State University. The losses snapped a seven-game winning streak, Longwood's longest of the season. The Lancers (21-10) return to action on Sunday, March 28, when they face Siena College at 9 a.m. on the final day of the Coastal Carolina Invitational.

In the first game of the day against Coastal Carolina (15-15), the Lancers fell behind early as they gave up six runs on a pair of home runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Chanticleers added another run in the bottom of the second inning to go ahead 7-0 after two innings. Longwood stormed back in the top of the third inning, scoring six runs, including a grand slam by senior Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) (2-4, 4 RBI, HR). Freshman Courtney Long/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (2-4, HR) added a solo home run to lead off the inning. The Lancers had baserunners in the final four innings but could not score the tying run as they fell 7-6.

Senior Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (17-5) received the loss after giving up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in six innings. Ashley Frederick picked up the win for Coastal Carolina.

Against Kent State (10-12), the Lancers again fell in an early hole as KSU scored four runs in the first inning and one in the second to pull ahead 5-0. Longwood started to chip away in the bottom of the second inning when senior Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) (1-3) scored from third on a bunt by sophomore Ashley Kramer/Ashburn (Broad Run) (3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI). The Lancers would add another run in the fourth inning when Kramer scored on a single by Long (1-2, RBI) to cut the lead to 5-2. Longwood pulled within one in the fifth inning when Kramer doubled to right center, driving in Betterton (3-4, 2B) and Maggie Margadonna/Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (2-3) to trim the deficit to 5-4.

Junior Brittany Spencer/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) started the game in the circle and gave up five runs on three hits in one inning. Freshman Brooke Short/Altavista (Altavista) pitched six shutout innings in relief, scattering three hits with seven strikeouts.

Junior Kami Nuckols/Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) extended her hitting streak to 18 games after hitting safely in both games today.