February 18, 2011

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team is set to open the 2011 season by hosting the Lancer Leadoff on February 19-20 at Lancer Field in Farmville. The Lancers will host Army, IUPUI and Quinnipiac for the two-day tournament. Longwood is opening its 2011 campaign and returns seven position starters and three pitchers from last year's squad that posted an impressive 36-16 record. The Lancers will play IUPUI at 1 p.m. and Army at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, and will play Quinnipiac at 1 p.m. and IUPUI at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20. Admission is free to all Longwood University spring sports.

LANCER LEADOFF DETAILS
Dates: February 19-20, 2011
Site: Farmville, Va.
Facility: Lancer Field
Lancer Leadoff Information
Live Stats

Longwood is coming off a 36-16 season and returns seven position starters, including senior pitching ace Briana Wells and sophomore designated player Brooke Short. Wells (31-10, 2.69 ERA) set school records for wins (31), appearances (47), starts (41) and innings pitched (247.2) during 2010. Short (.436, 13 HR, 42 RBI) had an exceptional freshman campaign as she set numerous single-season records including home runs (13), runs scored (52) and total bases (126) while earning First Team ECAC All-Star recognition. As a team, the Lancers set single-season records in hits (459), doubles (76), home runs (61), runs scored (314) and RBI (286).

Army dropped its season-opener but has won the last three games to improve to 3-1 after one weekend. The Black Knights are led offensively by Amanda Nguyen (.571, 8-14, 2 RBI) and Alex Reynolds (.286, 4-14, 6 RBI). Haley Pypes (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 6 K) and Shawna Bleyl (1-1, 9 BB, 4 K) have pitched the majority of the innings for the Black Knights.

IUPUI (2-2) is led by Brandi Lawson (.444, 4-9, 1 HR, 4 RBI) and Chelsie Hale (.400, 4-10, 2 HR, 5 RBI) while averaging 4.5 runs per game. Nikki Thomas (1-1, 2.62 ERA) and Samantha Bumbaugh (1-1, 5.25 ERA) lead the Jaguars' pitchers. IUPUI has lost its last two games.

Quinnipiac is opening its 2011 campaign after posting a 28-24 record during 2010. The Bobcats are led by two-time All-Northeast Conference pitcher Heather Schwartzburg (20-8, 1.51 ERA, 255 K). Alex Alba (.315, 6 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI) was named the NEC's Rookie of the Year in 2010. Quinnipiac returns 12 letterwinners from last season's squad.