Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DURHAM, N.C. – The Longwood University softball team opened the 2013 season with a pair of victories at North Carolina Central University (0-6) on Tuesday. The Lancers (2-0) earned a 5-2 victory in the first game before taking a 5-0 win in the nightcap. Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford tallied three home runs and six RBI for LU. Longwood returns to action in its first home games of the new season, as the squad is set to host the annual Lancer Leadoff Tournament on February 16-17. LU will square off against La Salle University and Quinnipiac University in the two-day event at Lancer Field in Farmville.

“We're happy to pick up two wins on the road in our season opener,” said head coach Kathy Riley. “We're coming away from this experience with a clearer picture of what is necessary for us to compete at a high level this season.”

In the first game, Longwood got on the board early, as Baltzell (3-for-5) walked before scoring on an error by NCCU's right fielder. LU's one-run advantage stood through three scoreless innings until the visitors extended the buffer in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, California (2h, 2r) kicked off the inning with a single to right-center and sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (2h, 2r, 1 RBI) followed with a one-bagger to left field before Baltzell blasted a three-run home run over the right-field fence to make it a 4-0 game.

The Eagles scored their first run of the day in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single from Cami Hampton. Longwood and North Carolina Central each posted one run in the seventh, as Baltzell hit her second long-ball of the contest to mark her first career multi-home run game and secure the 5-2 victory for the Lancers.

In the second game between the two squads, Baltzell notched her third homer of the day in the top of the first to knock in freshman teammate Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (2h, 2r, 2 RBI), who had walked, and give the Lancers an early 2-0 advantage. Although both teams threatened to score in the fourth inning, combining for three runners left on base, no one crossed the plate again until the top of the sixth. Longwood loaded the bases with a single from Adams and walks from Baltzell and senior Brooke Short/Hurt (4 bb) before taking advantage of a wild pitch situation to take a 3-0 lead. The Lancers scored its final two runs in the top of the seventh with an RBI double from Nishitomi and an RBI single from Adams. Longwood held NCCU scoreless in the bottom of the inning to take the 5-0 shutout win.

Sophomore Libby Morris/Dillwyn (1-0) went the distance in the circle in game one for the Lancers, posting a career-high eight strikeouts, while allowing just two hits and two walks. In game two, Short (1-0) and classmate Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth combined for the shutout, as Short struck out three batters in four innings of work and Cornell struck out six of the nine batters she faced in three perfect innings.