Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University softball team dropped a pair of decisions in a doubleheader at the University of Virginia (11-12) on Thursday in Charlottesville, Va. LU fell, 5-3 in the first game of the day before falling, 8-7, in nine innings in game two. Sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii led the Lancers with four hits in seven at-bats, as well as four runs and one RBI. Longwood returns to action when it travels to Big South Conference opponent Charleston Southern University for a three game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m.

Longwood got on the board in the top of the first of game one, as Nishitomi got things started with a bunt single. Senior Brooke Short/Hurt (1-8, 1 run, 1 RBI) reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners before she stole second. Freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (2-7, 1 run, 3 RBI) came to the plate and sent a shot to center field for a base-clearing single to give the Lancers an early 2-0 advantage. In the home half of the first, the Cavaliers advanced runners to second and third with two outs, threatening to knot the game, but Nishitomi tracked down a fly ball to end the at-bat and extinguish the threat.

Neither side was able to score in the second or third inning, as UVA left one stranded in the second and LU left one on in the third. The Lancers were able to extend their buffer in the fourth, however, thanks to a run by sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California (0-6, 1 run), who stole third and scored on an error by the Virginia catcher. The Cavaliers' bats would not stay silent, though, as the squad put together a five-run rally in the home half of the sixth to take a 5-3 edge. The Longwood side was retired in order in its final at-bat, as Virginia snuffed out the opportunity and secured the comeback victory.

In the nightcap, neither squad plated a run in the first, but Longwood scored in the top of the second as freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (3-7, 1 run, 1 RBI) singled up the middle, advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on an error, and scored on a RBI out by senior Jordan Cox/Springfield (0-7, 1 RBI). Longwood quickly sat the UVA side down in the bottom of the inning before adding another run in the third when sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford (2-8, 1 RBI) connected for an infield single, and after an error by the second baseman, Nishitomi scored unearned on the play to make it 2-0.

The Cavaliers came from behind once again, this time putting together a four-run third inning that included a two-RBI double to straight away center, taking a 4-2 advantage. LU chipped away at the deficit, scoring one run on a RBI single from Murphy in the fifth and one run on a base hit from Baltzell in the seventh to knot the game at 4-4.

Longwood held Virginia scoreless in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. In the eight, both squads scored the runner placed on second due to the international tie breaker rule, making it 5-5. In the top of the ninth, Longwood freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (0-7, 1 run) beat the throw home for the go-ahead run. Short followed with a double to left field, knocking in Nishitomi and giving the Lancers a two-run advantage at 7-5. The Cavaliers answered in the bottom of the inning, pulling within one on a RBI single before earning the 8-7 win in walk-off fashion on a two-run double to right center.