Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Longwood University softball team earned a 12-2 victory at Big South Conference opponent Charleston Southern University (5-22, 0-3 BSC) in five innings on Sunday to sweep the three-game weekend series. The Lancers (19-7, 5-1 BSC) were led by senior Brooke Short/Hurt and sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii, who both went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBI apiece in the series finale. Longwood returns to action when the squad opens a seven-game home stand beginning on Tuesday, March 19 with a doubleheader against Coastal Carolina University at 4 p.m.

“We challenged our team to compete one inning at a time and the results reflect that they responded to that challenge,” said head coach Kathy Riley.

Charleston Southern took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a leadoff double followed by a RBI single through the left side. Longwood knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the second, as freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (1-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI) reached on a fielder's choice before scoring on a base hit from freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-3, 1 RBI). The Lady Bucs took their final lead of the contest on a homer to right field in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead, 2-1.

The Lancers offense sealed the victory in the top of the third when Nishitomi blasted a leadoff home run to right center, sparking an 11-run rally for LU. Sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California hit a sacrifice fly to knock in sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford (1-2, 2 runs), who had gotten on with an infield single. Adams followed with a RBI double to left center, making it a 5-2 Lancer advantage. Sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (0-2, 1 run, 1 RBI) recorded a RBI of her own when she reached on a fielding error. Short and freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (1-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI) capped off the inning with a two-RBI single and a three-run home run, respectively, putting Longwood ahead, 12-2. The LU defense played strong in the final two innings, leaving three CSU base runners stranded to secure the 12-2 victory in five.

Sophomore Libby Morris/Dillwyn and senior Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth split time in the circle for the Lancers. Morris (8-3), who started the game, picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out one of the 18 batters she faced.