3.4.2012

PURDUE BOX SCORE

N.C. STATE BOX SCORE

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Longwood University dropped a pair of softball games Sunday during the final day of the Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida near Orlando.  The Lancers (12-7) fell to North Carolina State University of the Atlantic Coast Conference 4-3, following an 8-0, five inning setback to Purdue University of the Big 10 Conference.  Longwood was led in the second game against the Wolfpack (11-9) by senior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) and freshman Kori Nishitomi|Kaneohe, Hawaii (Maryknoll) with two hits each, while classmate Megan Baltzell|Stafford (Mountain View) had a hit and an RBI, and junior Ashley Cornell|Portsmouth (Churchland) took the complete-game pitching loss.  The Lancers were led in the first game against the Boilermakers (11-3) by Kramer, senior Leigh Sexton|Suffolk (Kings Fork), and freshman Katie Shinrock|Fountain Valley, Calif. (Edison) each with a hit, while classmate Libby Morris|Dillwyn (Buckingham County) took the mound loss.  Longwood will host the adidas Longwood Classic March 10-11 with two games each against North Carolina Central University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Binghamton University of the America East Conference.
   
Against North Carolina State, Longwood scored two runs in the third and another run in the fourth to lead 3-0 before the Wolfpack tied it at 3-3 with three runs in the fourth as well.  It remained tied until N.C. State pushed across the winning run in the final seventh inning.  In the third, Nishitomi (2-4) singled to lead-off and moved to second on a single by junior Brooke Short|Hurt (Altavista) (1-3).  Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Nishitomi crossed the plate when sophomore Marci Christian|Arvonia (Buckingham County) (0-3) reached on an error.  Short also scored later when Christian stole second.  In the fourth, senior Brittney Latka|Purcellville (Loudoun Valley) (1-2) singled to open the at-bat, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Courtney Long|Mechanicsville (Hanover) (0-0), and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Baltzell (1-4, RBI) provided a clutch two-out RBI double to plate Latka.
   
Scout Albertson (1-3, 3 RBI) hit a one-out, three-run home run in the fourth to tie it for the Wolfpack, following a walk and an error, and N.C. State won it in the seventh with three consecutive singles, including the game-winning hit by Renada Davis (1-4, RBI) that scored Toni Ann Williford (1-3).  Emily Weiman (7-7) earned the pitching win with the final 4.0 innings, allowing four hits and one run, earned, with no walks and six strikeouts.
   
Cornell (0-1) took the pitching loss with the complete-game 6.0 innings, yielding eight hits and four runs, three earned, with three walks and one strikeout.
   
Against Purdue, the Boilermakers scored four runs in the first, two more in the second, and single runs in both the third and fourth innings for the shortened five-inning decision via the eight-run rule.  Andie Varsho (2-4, RBI), Ashley Courtney (2-2, 2 RBI), and Lindsey Rains (2-2) each had two hits, while Maia Monchek (1-2, 2 RBI) added two RBI, and Lexy Moore (6-1) gained the pitching victory with 5.0 shutout innings, scattering three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
   
Kramer (1-1), Sexton (1-1), and Shinrock (1-1) each collected hits for Longwood, while Morris (6-3) took the pitching loss for the Lancers with 5.0 innings, allowing eight hits and eight runs, five earned, with five walks and two strikeouts.