3.24.2012

DEPAUL BOX SCORE

ALABAMA BOX SCORE

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Longwood University dropped a pair of softball games Saturday during the Easton Alabama Challenge being hosted by the University of Alabama at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  The Lancers (20-11) fell to #25 DePaul University of the BIG EAST Conference 10-2 in five innings, before an 11-0 loss to #1 Alabama of the Southeastern Conference in five innings.  Longwood was led in the first game against the Blue Demons (16-8) by freshman Megan Baltzell|Stafford (Mountain View) with two hits and two RBI, while junior Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) took the pitching loss, and freshman Libby Morris|Dillwyn (Buckingham County) took the pitching loss against the top-ranked Crimson Tide (29-1).  Longwood will play two more games at the tournament on Sunday, March 25, against DePaul at 11 a.m., and against Alabama at 1:30 p.m.

Against DePaul, Longwood took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as freshman Kori Nishitomi|Kaneohe, Hawaii (Maryknoll) (0-2) reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a one-out RBI double by Baltzell (2-3, 2 RBI).  The Blue Demons tied it at 1-1 with a run in the first as well, but the Lancers went back ahead 2-1 with a run in the third when sophomore Leta Bressin|Gloucester (Gloucester) (0-1) walked to lead off, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nishitomi, and scored on a run-scoring single by Baltzell.  Unfortunately, Longwood would not score again as DePaul added four runs in the third, three runs in the fourth, and two runs in the fifth to take the shortened win via the eight-run rule.

Cornell (5-2) took the loss with the first 2.0 innings, allowing two hits and five runs, all earned, with two walks and one strikeout.  Morris tossed the final 2.1 innings, yielding six hits and five runs, four earned, with two walks and no strikeouts.

DePaul was led by Kirsten Verdun (1-2, 5 RBI) who hit a grand slam home run in the third after an RBI in the first on a fielder's choice play.  Bree Brown (2-3, RBI) added a solo homer in the fifth for the Blue Demons, and Verdun (9-4) gained the win with 5.0 innings, scattering three hits and two runs, both earned, with four walks and five strikeouts.

Against Alabama, Longwood fell behind 7-0 in the first inning and never recovered during another shortened game due to the eight-run rule.  Baltzell (1-2) along with seniors Brittney Latka|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (1-2) and Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) (1-2) each had singles for the Lancers.  Morris (9-6) took the loss with 4.0 innings, allowing 10 hits and 11 runs, nine earned, with four walks and two strikeouts.

The Crimson Tide added one run in the second, and three more runs in the third, and were led by Cassie Reilly-Boccia (1-2, 3 RBI) with a three-run home run in the first, Jackey Branham (1-2, 2 RBI) with a two-run homer in the first, and Chaunsey Bell (3-3, 3 RBI) with a two-run home run in the third.  Leslie Jurry (8-1) gained the shutout win with 5.0 innings, scattering three hits with one walk and three strikeouts.