3.10.2012

NC Central Box Score | Binghamton Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University swept two softball games on the first day of the adidas/Longwood Classic at Lancer Field in Farmville Saturday afternoon, first defeating North Carolina Central University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 6-2 and then Binghamton University of the America East Conference 5-2. Junior Brooke Short|Hurt (Altavista) hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning against NC Central that proved the difference, while senior Brittney Latka|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) belted a 3-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh inning against Binghamton. The Lancers (14-7) close out the adidas/Longwood Classic on Sunday, March 11 against Binghamton at 12:15 p.m. before facing NC Central at 2:45 p.m.

Longwood and NC Central were scoreless through three innings of play before the Lancers, playing as the visiting team, scored an unearned run via a senior Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) (1-3, RBI) single to left field, pushing sophomore Marci Christian|Arvonia (Buckingham) (0-3) over home plate after she reached on a fielding error. The Eagles answered in the bottom half of the inning, driving in an unearned run of their own to tie it up 1-1 while missing the chance to take the lead, leaving two batters stranded. The next scoring opportunity came right away as Short (1-3, 3 RBI) drove in the three runs off her fifth-inning home run. In the sixth inning, NCCU plated one more run to pull within 4-2, and nearly added a third run but was thrown out at home plate from sophomore Leta Bressin's|Gloucester (Gloucester) (2-3) throw in centerfield that was cutoff by senior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (1-3) who finished it to Christian for the third out. Longwood added two final runs in the top of the seventh inning as Bressin crossed the plate on a wild pitch and junior Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (1-4, RBI) doubled to left field, sending Short in for the run and the final 6-2 score.

In game two, against Binghamton, Longwood opened scoring as Short (1-3, RBI) hit a solo homer in the first and freshman Megan Baltzell|Stafford (Mountain View) (1-3, RBI) followed suit with a solo home run in the third for the 2-0 lead early. Not to be outdone, Binghamton hit two solo home runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2. Neither team would score in the fifth or sixth inning, and the Lancers held off the Bearcats in the top of the seventh despite allowing two runners on base. In the bottom half of the inning, Kramer (2-3) would set the stage for possible victory, doubling to centerfield and putting herself in scoring position. Long (1-3) then doubled to left field in the next at bat before Latka (1-3, 3 RBI) took her place in the batter's box and swung hard for the game-winning three-run homer over the centerfield fence.

Freshman Libby Morris|Dillwyn (Buckingham) (7-3) earned the full-game pitching win against NC Central, yielding five hits and two runs, one earned, with one walk two strikeouts. Bianka Molina (1-9) started for NC Central and played 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and four runs, three earned, with no walks and two strikeouts. Aurora Baker played the final 2.2 innings in the loss, giving up three hits and two runs, both earned, with one walk and one strikeout.  Junior Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) (1-1) garnered her first victory of the season over Binghamton, scattering five hits and two runs, both earned, with two walks and four strikeouts. Demi Laney (1-3) took the pitching loss for Binghamton, playing 6.1 innings, yielding six hits and five runs, all earned, with no walks and four strikeouts.