3.11.2012

Binghamton Box Score | NC Central Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University split two softball games on the final day of the adidas Longwood Classic Sunday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville, first falling to Binghamton University of the America East Conference 2-0 before topping North Carolina Central University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 6-1. Senior Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) led the way with her two RBI performance. Longwood (15-8) will return to action on Friday, March 16, at the Charleston Southern Tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, facing host and future Big South Conference opponent Charleston Southern University at 2 p.m.

Despite getting five hits and giving up just three, Longwood allowed Binghamton to plate two in the win, including a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth that followed the eventual game-winning sacrifice fly to centerfield in the bottom of the fourth. Five different Lancers tallied the hits, including freshman Kori Nishitomi's|Kaneohe, Hawaii (Maryknoll) (1-3) two-out single to centerfield in the top of the sixth for a potential come-from-behind rally that fell short when senior Leigh Sexton|Suffolk (Kings Fork) (0-1) came in to pinch hit, grounding out to the Bearcat's third baseman to end the game.

In the win against NC Central, Longwood struck first in the bottom of the second inning with two runs that started when senior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (2-3) singled to left field. After senior Brittney Latka|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (0-2) reached on a throwing error, Kramer stole third before scoring on another throwing error in the same sequence, which also advanced Latka from first to third base. Long (2-3, 2 RBI) then singled to center, bringing Latka to the plate for a 2-0 lead. NCCU brought it within one, scoring an unearned run in the third for a 2-1 Lancer lead. Longwood answered in the bottom half with two more runs that was spurred by a huge triple from freshman Megan Baltzell|Stafford (Mountain View) (2-3). Freshman Casey Lifsey|Portsmouth (Churchland) (0-1) came up to bat next and plated Baltzell on a sacrifice fly to right field, giving Longwood the 3-1 lead. The 4-1 advantage came from junior Jordan Cox's|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (1-3, RBI) one-out solo homer. The Eagles would not be able to muster another run as they left five base runners stranded in their final four chances. The Lancers, however, added two more insurance runs; the first one in the fifth when Baltzell scored an unearned run that preceded her right-field single and two stolen bases. The last score came in the sixth when freshman Chelsea Sciacca|Whittier, Calif. (La Habra) (1-1) pinch hit for Latka, singling to right and was brought around to score off Long's double to center for the final 6-1 tally.

Freshman Libby Morris|Dillwyn (Buckingham) (7-4) took the 6.0-inning pitching loss against Binghamton, yielding three hits and two runs, both earned, with one walk and three strikeouts. Kristen Emerling (1-9) pitched 5.0 innings for Binghamton, allowing four hits and no runs, with one walk and five strikeouts. Kate Price entered the game in relief for the final 2.0 innings, giving up one hit and no runs, walks or strikeouts, for the save. Junior Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) (2-1) garnered the pitching victory over NC Central in 7.0 innings, scattering six hits and one unearned run, with one walk and four strikeouts. Bianka Molina (1-10) took the pitching loss for NC Central, playing 6.0 innings and yielding eight hits and six runs, four earned, with two walks and two strikeouts.