March 26, 2011

Box Score: Longwood 14, Hampton 1 (5)
Box Score: Longwood 7, Hampton 4

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team swept a doubleheader with visiting Hampton University, winning the first game 14-1 in five innings and the second game 7-4. Senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) went 5-for-8 in the two games with two home runs and six RBI while classmate Kami Nuckols|Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) went 2-for-3 with her first career home run, a grand slam, in the first game against the Pirates (7-20). Longwood (18-7) returns to action on Wednesday, March 30, when it hosts James Madison University of the Colonial Athletic Association at 4 p.m. at Lancer Field in Farmville. Admission is free to all Longwood home softball games.

Hampton scored one run in the top of the first inning but Longwood responded with three in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) (3-4, RBI) started a two-out rally with a single to right field and then scored on a double by classmate Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (3-4, 3 RBI). Cox scored from third base when a throw down to second bounced off of the shortstop's glove and went in to the outfield. Senior Tricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) (1-1, 2 BB) scored the third run of the inning from second base on an infield hit by junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (1-2, 2 RBI). The Lancers added three runs in the second inning. Nuckols (2-3, 4 RBI) slapped a ball to the shortstop and beat the throw. She stole second and third base before senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) (0-2, 2 BB) walked. Margadonna (2-4, 2 RBI, HR) had an infield single and Nuckols scored on the play. Cox hit a two-out, two-RBI single to centerfield that scored Margadonna and Simmons to put Longwood ahead 6-1. The Lancers exploded for seven runs in the third inning. Nelson singled to leadoff the inning, then seniors Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (0-1, RBI) and Brittany Matthews|Farmville (Prince Edward) (0-2) had back-to-back walks to load the bases for Nuckols. Nuckols hit a grand slam to right-center field to put the Lancers ahead 10-1. Margadonna came to the plate two batters later and hit a solo home run. Short and Cox hit back-to-back singles, then Nelson walked, Kramer was hit by a pitch, and Wells walked for the second time in the inning to put the Lancers ahead 13-1.

Wells (15-7, 1.78 ERA) gave up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in five innings and earned the victory. Tiffany Brents (2-2) received the loss after giving up 13 runs, 12 earned, on 11 hits in three innings.

In the second game, the Lancers led 1-0 in the first inning after Margadonna (3-4, 4 RBI, HR) doubled and advanced home after a passed ball and wild pitch. The Lancers added a pair of runs in the second inning when freshman Marci Christian|Buckingham (Buckingham) (1-2) scored on a double by Simmons (1-4, RBI). Simmons scored on a groundout by Margadonna. The Pirates tied the game in the third inning with three runs on three hits. Sharde' Estep (2-3, 2 RBI) hit a two-RBI double and Travonna Byrd (3-4, RBI) had a RBI single. Hampton took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Bre'Anna Brown (1-3) stole home as part of a double steal. The Lancers tied the game at 4-4 with a RBI single by Margadonna in the bottom of the inning. Longwood pushed ahead for good in the sixth inning when Margadonna hit a two-run home run to right-center field. Short (1-4, RBI) added a solo home run to push the lead to 7-4.

Sophomore Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) (0-0, 3.36 ERA) started and gave up four runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Wells earned the victory after allowing two hits in 3.2 scoreless innings. Byrd received the loss after giving up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts in six innings.