April 16, 2010

BOX SCORE: LONGWOOD 12, HAMPTON 0
BOX SCORE: LONGWOOD 12, HAMPTON 3

HAMPTON, Va. – The Longwood University softball team swept a doubleheader at Hampton University on Friday afternoon in Hampton, winning the first game 12-0 (5) and the second game 12-3 (6). Senior Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) hit two home runs and drove in four runs while freshman Brooke Short/Altavista (Altavista) went 4-for-6 in the two games with a triple and her 12th home run of the season. The Lancers (31-13) return to action on Wednesday, April 21, when they host Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m..

The Lancers struck in the second inning of the first game with Betterton (1-2, HR, 2 RBI) hitting a two-run home run to score senior Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine). A double by junior Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) drove in junior Nichole Simmons/Chesapeake (Hickory) (2-3, HR, 4 RBI). Junior Kami Nuckols/Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) (2-3) would score when junior Maggie Margadonna/Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (1-3, 3 RBI) put the ball in play. Longwood added to its lead in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by Simmons. Wells followed with a solo home run and junior Brittany Matthews/Farmville (Prince Edward) (1-1) scored the fifth run of the inning on a double by Margadonna to go ahead 10-0 after 3 1/2 innings. The Lancers added one run in the fourth inning when freshman Jordan Cox/Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (1-1) scored when Simmons put the ball in play. The Lancers added one more run in the top of the fifth inning when freshman Erin Carpenter/Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain) scored when junior Tricia Nelson/Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) hit in to a fielder's choice to make the final score 12-0.

Wells (27-7) picked up the win after giving up one hit with six strikeouts in three innings. Freshman Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth (Churchland) pitched two shutout innings, giving up one hit. Jada Jeffries (9-8) received the loss after giving up nine runs, five earned, on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.

In the second game, the Lancers struck in the first inning when Short (1-2, RBI) hit a solo home run to give Longwood the 1-0 lead. The Lancers wouldn't hold the lead for long as Hampton answered with three runs in the bottom of the first on a home run by Kelsei Saunders. Longwood regained the lead in the third inning when Matthews (1-1) tripled to right field and scored on a double by Nuckols (2-4, RBI). Nuckols would score on a RBI single by Margadonna (1-2, RBI). Sophomore Ashley Kramer/Ashburn (Broad Run) (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 3B) tripled to drive in Margadonna. The Lancers led 5-3 after 3 1/2 innings and added seven runs in the sixth inning, two on a two-RBI triple by Kramer and two on a home run by Betterton (1-4, 2 RBI).

Wells picked up her second win of the day, giving up three runs on two hits with three strikeouts in four innings. Junior Brittany Spencer/Virginia Beach (First Colonial) pitched two scoreless and hitless innings with three strikeouts. The loss went to Travonna Byrd (6-12) who gave up 12 runs, 11 earned, in 5 2/3 innings on 10 hits, five walks and four hit batters.