April 23, 2011

Box Score: Longwood 6, Liberty 0
Box Score: Longwood 2, Liberty 1

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team swept visiting Liberty University of the Big South Conference on Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville, winning the first game 6-0 and the second game 2-1 on Senior Day. Senior pitcher Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) earned the victory in both games as she allowed just one run and struck out 13 batters on the day. Sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning of the second game for the Lancers (30-11) against the Flames (22-20). Longwood returns to action on Sunday, April 24, when it travels to University Park, Pennsylvania, for a doubleheader with Pennsylvania State University at 1 p.m..

In the first game, the Lancers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Short (1-3, 2 runs) singled down the line to drive in senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) (1-4, 2 runs). Senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (1-2, 2 runs) scored on a fielding error by the shortstop, the Short scored on a RBI groundout by senior Tricia Nelson|Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield Central) (0-2, RBI). The Lancers added three more runs in the second inning, all with two outs. Simmons reached on a fielder's choice, then Margadonna, Short and sophomore Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (0-3, RBI) drew consecutive walks, which scored one run. Junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (1-3, 2 RBI) singled to center field to drive home two more runs to put the Lancers ahead 6-0.

Wells (27-11, 2.31 ERA) earned the victory after she pitched seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts. Tiffani Smith (8-11) received the loss after giving up six runs, four earned, on five hits, five walks and one hit batter.

In the second game, the Lancers scored one run in the bottom of the second inning after junior Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) (0-2) walked with two outs. Senior Kami Nuckols|Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) (1-2) reached on an error, then junior Brittney Latka|Purcellville (Loudon Valley) replaced Long on the basepaths and advanced to third on a walk by Simmons (0-2). Latka scored when Margadonna (0-3) reached on a fielding error to give the Lancers the early 1-0 lead. The Flames tied the game in the fifth inning when Katie Zavodny scored on a single by Sammi Shivock. Short (2-3, HR) put the Lancers ahead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning when she hit a solo home run, her 15th of the season. Liberty put runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth inning, but Wells forced a popup then struck out the next two batters. In the seventh inning, the Flames loaded the bases after a hit batter, one hit and a two-out walk, but Ashley Bensinger flew out to right field to end the game. Liberty stranded nine runners in the second game.

Wells earned the victory after she allowed one run on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Katrina Johnson (11-6) received the loss after giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits with four strikeouts.

Longwood recognized six seniors in a pregame ceremony. Nuckols went 4-for-5 on the day, including 3-3 in the first game. Margadonna and Simmons each scored two runs while Nelson drove in one run. Wells earned two victories with batterymate and classmate Brittany Matthews|Farmville (Prince Edward).