April 10, 2011

Box Score: Longwood 7, Charleston Southern 5
Box Score: Longwood 3, Charleston Southern 1

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team swept visiting Charleston Southern University 7-5 and 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville. The Lancers (23-8) were led by senior pitcher Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) who went 2-0 in the circle and gave up just four runs on 11 hits in 13 innings while senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) hit two home runs with three RBI against the Buccaneers (17-26). Longwood has won four-straight games and eight of the last nine outings. The Lancers return to action on Tuesday, April 12, when they travel to Washington, D.C. for a doubleheader against Georgetown University of the Big East Conference at 3 p.m..

Longwood jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first game after sophomore Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (1-2, 2 RBI) hit a two-run home run in the first inning that scored sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) (2-2, HR, RBI). The Buccaneers tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by Hayes Holdsworth (1-4, RBI) and a RBI double by Lizzy Olmstead (1-3). The Lancers took the lead for good after scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Patricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) (2-3, RBI) hit a RBI double to left field and advanced to third on the throw that was too late to get junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (0-3). Nelson scored on a wild pitch to put LU ahead 4-2. CSU scored one run in the top of the fifth on a RBI groundout by Jana Matthews, but the Lancers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back home runs by Margadonna and Short. Sophomore Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) (0-0, 4.50 ERA) relieved Wells in the seventh inning and allowed two runs on three hits, but struck out Holdsworth with runners on second and third to secure the victory.

Wells (20-8, 2.24 ERA) earned the victory after giving up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Kimberly Hobbs (10-11) received the loss after giving up seven runs on seven hits in five innings.

In the second game, CSU took the early lead after Megan Lombard (2-3, HR) hit a leadoff home run. Longwood evened the score in the bottom of the first when Margadonna (1-2, HR) hit a solo home run to left field. The Lancers took the lead in the second inning when freshman Leta Bressin|Gloucester (Gloucester) (1-2, RBI) hit a RBI single to centerfield that scored sophomore Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) (1-2). Longwood added an insurance run in the sixth inning when senior Kami Nuckols|Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) scored on a groundout by Kramer.

Wells earned the victory after she scattered five hits over seven innings and allowed one run with five strikeouts. Morgan Dowdy (7-15) received the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in six innings.