Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford and senior Jordan Cox/Springfield each went 2-for-2 at the plate with one run and one RBI to lead the Longwood University softball team to an 8-0 victory against Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (3-15, 0-4) in five-innings on Friday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville. Freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach added to the Lancers' offensive effort with a team-best two RBI on one hit in three at-bats. Sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn recorded the win in the circle with one strikeout and one walk in three innings of work. Longwood (20-10, 6-4) and Gardner-Webb will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, March 23 beginning at 1 p.m.

Longwood retired the Gardner-Webb side in order in the top of the first with three ground outs, including two fielded cleanly by Morris. In the Lancers' first ups, sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) worked the count full before drawing a leadoff walk. Baltzell followed with a base hit to left before both Lancers moved up on stolen bases, but Longwood was not able to capitalize on the opportunity, keeping the game scoreless after one complete inning.

The Lancers stuck together defensively in the top of the second despite the Runnin' Bulldogs pressure. Cox threw out the lead runner at second in a fielder's choice situation for the first out. Later in the inning, Baltzell and Cox connected to catch runner attempting to steal third for the putout. The inning ended on a play at the plate, as sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, California (2-3, 2 runs) fielded a base hit in center and sent the throw on target to Baltzell, who tagged the diving runner at home to get Longwood out of the inning unscathed.

The home squad rallied in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs on five hits. Freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-1, 1 run, 2 walks), who led off with a walk, was followed by Cox with a bunt single and Shinrock with a base hit to center to load the bases. Back at the top of the order, Nishitomi slapped up the middle to score the Lancers' first run of the game. On the next play, Baltzell sent the ball skidding by the Gardner-Webb pitcher for a RBI and Shinrock raced home on the throw to make it 3-0. Senior Brooke Short/Hurt (0-2, 1 run) was hit by a pitch to load bases once again before Murphy drilled a two-run double. Adams, who started the inning, drew another walk to keep the rally alive, and Cox followed with a walk of her own after several foul tips to plate a run and give the Lancers a 6-0 margin.

Longwood's defense was led by Murphy in the top of the third, who fielded two hard hit balls for the first two outs. Baltzell ended the inning on a great diving catch around the home plate umpire in foul territory. In the home half of the third, Shinrock nailed a shot in the gap and legged out a triple before scoring on the same play due to an errant throw, giving her squad a 7-0 edge.

Gardner-Webb went three-up and three-down in the top of the fourth before the Lancers added one more run in the bottom of the inning, as sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. (1-3, 1 run) connected for a leadoff double to left center and scored on a pass ball. The Lancers then held off Gardner-Webb in the visitor's final at-bat to secure the 8-0 mercy-rule decision.

Senior pitcher Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth came out of the bullpen for the final two innings of the contest. She allowed just one hit, whiling striking out one of the seven batters she faced.