April 13, 2011

Box Score: Longwood 12, Norfolk State 3
Box Score: Longwood 9, Norfolk State 0

NORFOLK, Va. - The Longwood University softball team swept a doubleheader at Norfolk State University 12-3 and 9-0 on Wednesday evening in Norfolk. Sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) went 4-for-4 with two home runs, both in the second game, and four RBI in the two games to lead the Lancers (25-8) against the Spartans (8-20). Longwood returns to action on Thursday, April 14, when it travels to Washington, D.C., to take on Georgetown University of the Big East Conference at 3 p.m..

In the first game, Longwood scored one run in the first inning when Short hit a RBI single to score senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory). The Lancers bats came to life in the third inning as the Lancers scored six runs on five hits. Junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) and senior Tricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) hit back-to-back RBI singles with the bases loaded to put LU ahead 3-0. Two runs scored when senior Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) reached on an error by the left fielder, then senior Brittany Matthews|Farmville (Prince Edward) hit a two-run double to put Longwood ahead 7-0. The Lancers added five runs on three hits in the fifth inning. Freshmen Marci Christian|Arvonia (Buckingham) and Leta Bressin|Gloucester (Gloucester) hit back-to-back two-run doubles, then Simmons added a sacrifice fly to put the Lancers ahead 12-0. NSU scored three runs in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by Danielle Wright to make the final score 12-3.

Wells (22-7, 2.18) pitched three scoreless innings and gave up one hit with three strikeouts and earned the victory. Sophomore Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) gave up three runs on three hits in the final two innings. Casey Pomeroy (4-6) received the loss after giving up seven runs, five earned, on seven hits in 2.1 innings.

In the second game, Short hit a solo home run in the first inning to put LU ahead 1-0. The Lancers scored five runs in the second inning, the first on an infield single by junior Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover). Three runs scored on a single by senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) before Short had a RBI double to put the Lancers ahead 6-0. Longwood finished the scoring in the fourth inning with three runs. Simmons and senior Kami Nuckols|Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) scored on a single by Simmons and two errors by the Spartans. Short hit her second solo home run of the game to make the final 9-0.

Wells earned the victory after giving up two hits with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings. Short pitched two scoreless innings in her first outing of the season. Elizabeth Castaneda (1-3) received the loss after giving up nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits and three walks with four strikeouts.