Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University softball team fell, 3-0, against Big South Conference opponent Coastal Carolina University (16-11, 3-0) in the finale of the three-game series between the squads on Wednesday afternoon at Lancer Field. Five Lancers posted one hit apiece in the outing, including senior pitcher Brooke Short/Hurt, who went .500 at the dish while turning in a complete game effort in the circle and tying a season-high with six strikeouts. Longwood (19-10, 5-4) will return to action on Saturday, March 23 when it welcomes league opponent Gardner-Webb University to Farmville. The teams will square off in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Coastal jumped in front with a 1-0 advantage in the top of first. The Chanticleers earned a leadoff walk and moved the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt. During the next at-bat, the CCU base runner stole third and scored when the throw down was missed by Longwood shortstop Emily Murphy/ Virginia Beach (0-2), giving the visitors the early lead. In the Lancers first at-bat, Short came to the plate with two outs and sent a single through the right side to get on base, but she would not move any close to scoring, as Murphy followed with a ground out to the pitcher. 

Longwood picked up two quick outs in the field in the second, thanks to a catch from sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (1-3) in left and a strikeout from Short. The inning was not quite over, though, as the next batter sent a double to center. CCU followed with another base hit to score the runner, but sophomore catcher Megan Baltzell/Stafford (1-3) snapped a quick throw to senior third baseman Jordan Cox/Springfield (1-3), who tagged the runner to end the inning on the same play.

The Lancers could not get anything started in the bottom of the inning, but put together a strong defensive showing in the top of the third, as freshman second baseman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-3) and Cox snagged hard hit line drives, and Murphy caught a high infield fly. When Longwood came back to the plate, Nishitomi worked the count full with two outs before poking a single to right to get on board, but Baltzell followed with a chopper to the pitcher, putting an end to the opportunity.

In the top of the fourth, Longwood logged three quick outs, aided by a pair of strikeouts from Short. Sophomore right fielder Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California (1-3) hit a fly ball hard and deep to center field in the bottom of the inning, but the Chanticleers came up with the catch at the warning track to keep their 2-0 margin.

Both sides were retired in order in the fifth before CCU's leadoff batter in the sixth connected on the first pitch she saw for a home run, making it 3-0. The Lancers made things interesting in the bottom of the inning, though, with a two-out rally. Baltzell got things started, as she legged out a two-out double with a roller down the third base line. Baltzell then advanced to third on wild pitch and Short was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners. Murphy walked to load bases, but Sciacca hit into a one-to-three play before the Lancers could get on the board. 

The Lancers held the Chants scoreless in top seven, giving the home squad one more chance at the plate. Cox connected for a base hit up the middle with just one out, but freshman designated player Hannah Burmeister/Chesapeake (0-3) popped up to the shortstop and sophomore center fielder Casey Lifesey/Portsmouth (0-3) struck out, allowing Coastal to secure the 3-0 decision.