April 9, 2011

Box Score: Longwood 3, South Carolina 1
Box Score: Longwood 8, South Carolina 7

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team swept the visiting University of South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference 3-1 and 8-7 on Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville. The Lancers (21-8) hit six home runs on the day, including two each by sophomores Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) and Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee), while senior Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) hit a walkoff home run in the seventh inning to win the second game. Senior Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) went 2-0 in the circle with eight strikeouts in 14 innings in the two games against the Gamecocks (19-20). Longwood returns to action on Sunday, April 10, when it hosts Charleston Southern University of the Big South Conference at 12 p.m. at Lancer Field in Farmville.

In the first game, Margadonna (0-2) walked before Short (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit a two-run home run to right-center field. Junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (1-3, HR) followed two batters later with a solo home run to left field to give Longwood the 3-0 lead after the first inning. South Carolina scored one run in the top of the third inning when Lauren Lackey (0-1) scored on a foulout to a retreating Short at first base. The Gamecocks loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth inning, but USC hit in to a fielders choice to end the inning. USC also had runners on second and third base in the sixth inning with one out, but Wells struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Wells (18-8, 2.25 ERA) earned the victory and gave up one run on five hits with three strikeouts. Audrey Broyles (4-6) received the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in two innings.

In the second game, the Lancers led 4-1 after the first inning. USC tied the game with one run in the second inning and one in the third, but the Lancers pulled ahead 6-4 in the bottom of the third. LU led 7-4 before the Gamecocks scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game. Margadonna hit a walkoff home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. USC stranded nine base runners in the second game.

Samie Garcia (1-4) hit a home run on the first pitch from Wells to start the second game. In the bottom of the first, senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) (3-4, 2R) hit a leadoff single and stole second base. Margadonna (2-4, 2 RBI, 2R) reached on a fielder's choice and Simmons advanced to third on an error. The pair pulled off a double steal to tie the game at 1-1 before Short (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) hit a two-run home run to clear the bases. Cox (2-3, 2 RBI, 2HR) put the Lancers ahead 4-1 with a home run in LU's next at-bat. USC's Dana Hathorn (2-3) hit a RBI single to cut the lead to 4-2 and then the Gamecocks tied the game in the top of the third after two runs scored on a throwing error by Cox. Cox responded in the bottom of the third inning with her second home run of the game, then Kramer (0-2) scored from second after stealing third and advancing home on an error by the shortstop. A RBI single by Margadonna put Longwood ahead 7-4 after four innings. The Gamecocks scored three runs in the fifth to tie the game at 7-7. Margadonna hit a one-out home run to left field for the walkoff victory.

Wells earned the win after giving up seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits with five strikeouts. Julie Sarratt (5-6) received the loss after giving up the home run to Margadonna.