April 24, 2010

Box Score: Longwood 7, Liberty 6
Box Score: Liberty 6, Longwood 3

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Longwood University softball team split a doubleheader at Liberty University of the Big South Conference on Saturday afternoon in Lynchburg, winning the first game 7-6 before falling 6-3. Freshman Brooke Short/Altavista (Altavista) went 1-for-3 on the day with four walks and her 13th home run of the season, breaking the Longwood single-season record of 12 set by Shamana Washington during the 2004 season. The Lancers (33-15) return to action on Sunday, April 25, when they host Georgetown University for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Lancer Field in Farmville. Seniors Amy Betterton/Rocky Mount (Franklin County) and Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) will be recognized before the game.

In the first game, Longwood fell behind 3-0 after the first inning, two of those runs coming when Meredith Baisden (1-2, 2 RBI) hit a two-RBI single to left field. The Lancers got one run back in the third inning when Short (1-2, RBI, 2 BB) hit her record-breaking home run to left field to cut the deficit to 3-1. Longwood added three runs in the fifth inning, the first when sophomore Brittney Latka/Purcellville (Loudon Valley) scored on a wild pitch. Junior Kami Nuckols/Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) (1-3, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored junior Brittany Matthews/Farmville (Prince Edward). Sophomore Ashley Kramer/Ashburn (Broad Run) (1-4, RBI) doubled to drive in Short for the third run of the inning. Longwood added another run in the top of the sixth inning when junior Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (2-2, RBI) singled to drive in Ketsdever (1-3) and give the Lancers the 5-3 lead. Liberty (33-12) trimmed the lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI single by Amber DePasquale (1-2, 2 RBI). Longwood extended its lead to 7-3 in the top of the seventh inning on a two-RBI double by Betterton (1-3, 2 RBI). The Lancers would need both of those insurance runs after Kelly Strickland (1-3, HR) hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the inning. Wells forced a lineout to end the game.

Wells (29-9) pitched her 23rd complete game of the season and allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits with six strikeouts. Tiffani Smith (18-4) received the loss after allowing seven runs, four earned, on seven hits with 11 strikeouts in seven innings of work.

The Lancers fell behind in the second game as well after the Flames scored a pair of runs in the second inning. Longwood answered with three runs in the top of the third inning, the first when Kramer walked with the bases loaded to score Matthews (1-2). Ketsdever (1-3) followed with a ball that the shortstop couldn't handle. Short (0-1, 2 BB) and junior Maggie Margadonna/Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (1-3) both scored on the play and Ketsdever was thrown out when she tried to take second base. The Flames pulled ahead in the fifth inning when Baisden (2-4, RBI) and Ashley Bensinger (2-2, 2 RBI) had back-to-back hits that drove in runs. Liberty added two more runs in the seventh inning to win 6-3.

Wells received the loss after giving up six runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. Katrina Johnson was credited with the win after scattering five hits over seven innings, giving up three runs, one earned, with six strikeouts.