March 6, 2011

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Longwood University softball team dropped a 6-2 nine-inning decision to Illinois State University on Sunday morning at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Florida. Sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) went 2-for-3 from the plate with a solo home run to lead the Lancers (10-3) while Lauren Kellar drove in four runs for the Redbirds (12-7). Longwood returns to action on Tuesday, March 8, when it travels to Charlottesville for a doubleheader against the University of Virginia beginning at 2 p.m..

In the bottom of the first inning, Short his a two-out solo home run to center field to put Longwood ahead 1-0. The Redbirds answered in the top of the fourth inning when Caiti Kopp (1-4) reached on a one-out walk. Kopp advanced to second base on an illegal pitch, then Sarass Bradley (0-2) walked to put runners on first and second. Kopp scored from second on a throwing error on the second baseman. The Lancers stranded two baserunners in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior Tricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) (1-3) hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Brittany Matthews|Farmville (Prince Edward) (0-2). Nelson advanced to third on a wild pitch, but senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (0-4) grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Lancers had a runner on second base due to the International Tiebreaker but were retired in order to send the game to the ninth inning. The Redbirds put runners on first and second after Jessica Roche (1-3) was hit by a pitch. Kara Nelson (1-3) was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Kellar hit a grand slam to put ISU ahead 5-1. Liz Andrews added a RBI single to give the Redbirds the 6-1 lead. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Margadonna was placed on second base. Short struck out swinging before senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) (1-4) singled up the middle and Margadonna advanced to third. Margadonna scored on a throwing error on the catcher to make the score 6-2. Junior Leigh Sexton|Suffolk (Randolph College) (0-1) struck out looking to end the inning.

Senior Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (8-3, 2.22 ERA) received the loss after giving up six runs, four earned, on five hits with 10 strikeouts in nine innings. Jordan Birch (4-1) received the win after giving up two runs, only one earned, on four hits with eight strikeouts in nine innings.