March 13, 2011

Box Score: Miami (OH) 1, Longwood 0
Box Score: Longwood 3, South Dakota State 0

HONOLULU, Hawaii - The Longwood University softball team defeated South Dakota State University 3-0 after it dropped a 1-0 decision to Miami University (Ohio) on Sunday afternoon on the third and final day of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. Sophomore Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI to pace the Lancers (15-5). Longwood returns to action on Monday, March 14, when it plays an exhibition game against the Tokyo Women's College of Physical Education at 10 p.m. ET before taking on the University of Hawaii on Tuesday, March 15, at 12 a.m. ET.

Against South Dakota State (2-16), the Lancers got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) walked to lead off the inning and then stole second base. She scored on a RBI single by junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) to give Longwood the 1-0 lead. Kramer stole second base and then stole third base and scored on a RBI single by Cox to put the Lancers ahead 2-0. Cox added a two-out home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to put Longwood ahead 3-0.

Senior Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (12-5, 1.86 ERA) earned the victory after pitching five shutout inning and giving up two hits with three strikeouts. Sophomore Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) allowed one hit over the final two innings. Pam Nicholson received the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in two innings.

Longwood stranded eight baserunners in the first game against Miami (11-7). The RedHawks scored the only run of the game in the third inning. Taylor Rice walked to leadoff the inning and advanced to third base when Daniela Torres reached on a throwing error by the first baseman on a sacrifice bunt. Kristy Arbour had an infield hit to score Rice. In the bottom of the fourth inning, sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) hit a single up the middle and then Simmons was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. The runners advanced on a groundout by senior Tricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) but were stranded when Wells grounded out to second base to end the inning. The Lancers stranded three runners in the fifth inning and one in the sixth in the loss.

Wells received the loss after giving up one unearned run on three hits in seven innings. Jessica Simpson (10-3) earned the win after scattering seven hits over seven innings with seven strikeouts.