2.12.2012

EAST TENNESSEE STATE BOX SCORE

GEORGIA STATE BOX SCORE

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Longwood University won two softball games Sunday during the final day of the Georgia State First Pitch Classic in Atlanta, Georgia to claim the tournament's title.  The Lancers (3-1) closed the event with an 11-7 victory past host Georgia State University of the Colonial Athletic Association late Sunday night after taking a 3-2 win past East Tennessee State University of the Atlantic Sun Conference early Sunday morning.  Longwood was led against GSU by sophomore Marci Christian|Arvonia (Buckingham) and freshman Megan Baltzell|Stafford (Mountain View), each with three RBI, and junior Brooke Short|Hurt (Altavista) earned a complete-game pitching victory.  Short added two RBI and picked-up a save against ETSU, while freshman Libby Morris|Dillwyn (Buckingham) gained the pitching win.  Longwood will open its home schedule next weekend, February 17-19, hosting the Lancer Lead-Off event with games scheduled against UMBC, Seton Hall University, and St. John's University.

Against GSU, Longwood took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning courtesy an RBI single by freshman Katie Shinrock|Fountain Valley, Calif. (Edison) (1-4, RBI) before senior Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) (1-3) scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a double.  The Panthers scored a run in the third before the Lancers added two more runs in the third on a two-out, two-run home run from Christian (2-3, 3 RBI) to lead 4-1.  LU took control with seven runs in the fourth, starting when Christian drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by senior Brittney Latka|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) crossing the plate unearned on an error while pinch-running, before Baltzell (1-4, 3 RBI) provided the big blast with a three-run triple.  Freshman Kori Nishitomi|Kaneohe, Hawaii (Maryknoll) (2-4, RBI) added an RBI double in the inning as well en route to an 11-1 advantage.

GSU would not go quietly; however, scoring five runs in the fifth via a one-out, three-run home run that was followed by a two-out, two-run homer to close to within 11-6.  The Panthers added a solo home run in the seventh for the final four-run margin as Short (1-0) collected the mound win with her complete-game 7.0-inning effort, scattering 10 hits and seven runs, four earned, with one walk and six strikeouts.  It was her first pitching win since the second week of her freshman season as the standout offensive and utility player only tossed 2.0 innings as a sophomore following just 29.1 innings as a freshman.  The Lancers were able to avenge a 3-2 setback to the Panthers during yesterday's action in Georgia.

Against ETSU, Longwood scored one run in the first and two runs in the third for the win.  Short (2-3, 2 RBI) provided an RBI double in the first and an RBI single in the third, and Christian (0-3, RBI) added an RBI grounder for the Lancers.  Morris (2-1) earned the pitching win with the first 4.0 innings, scattering three hits and two runs, both earned, with four walks and four strikeouts.  Short (1) tossed the final 3.0 shutout innings, yielding two hits with no walks and two strikeouts for her first collegiate save.