Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach logged four RBI on two hits in four at-bats to help the Longwood University softball team earn an 8-4, come-from-behind victory against in-state and Big South Conference opponent Radford University (8-18, 1-1 BSC) on Wednesday afternoon at Lancer Field. The Lancers (23-10, 9-4) trailed 3-2 in the third inning before sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn (4.1 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 0 ER) came out of the bullpen to quiet the Radford attack, allowing Longwood to score six unanswered runs in the latter part of the contest. Sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii added to the offensive effort, going 3-for-3 at the plate to extend her program-best hit streak to 24 games. Longwood will return to action on Tuesday, April 2 when the squad travels to Elon University for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

“It's always nice to get a win against an in-state rival,” said head coach Kathy Riley. “Radford played hard and I was happy to see us battle back once we fell behind.”

Senior pitcher Brook Short/Hurt (2.2 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 SO), who started the game in the circle, put the Highlanders' leadoff hitter in a 0-2 hole before giving up a blooper to left to open the game. RU executed a clean sacrifice bunt to move the runner over before a fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs. The Highlanders logged an RBI single to take a 1-0 advantage, but Murphy tagged the batter as she tried to take second, thanks to a good relay from sophomore right fielder Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California (2-3) and senior third baseman Jordan Cox/Springfield (0-4), ending the inning.

Longwood quickly answered in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 advantage, as Nishitomi led off with a walk, sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford (0-3, 2 runs, 1 bb) reached on an error and Short (2-3, 1 run) walked to load the bases. Murphy connected for a base hit to left, scoring Nishitomi and Baltzell, but Short was caught in rundown for the first out of the side on the same play. Sciacca followed with a base hit through the left side, but the Lancers were unable to make any more noise in inning.

The Highlanders' half of the second inning started in the same fashion as the first with bloop-single and sacrifice bunt. An infield groundout moved the runner to third and a two-out RBI single up the middle knotted the score at 2-2. In the bottom of the second, Longwood threatened to regain the lead, as sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (1-2) reached on an error and had a chance to score on a two-bagger to the wall in center by Nishitomi, but the cutoff throw to the plate from RU's shortstop was on time and on target, to get the visitors out of the inning unscathed.

Radford pulled ahead once again in the top of the third with a leadoff walk and a RBI single to make it 3-2, but Baltzell came up with a big out, as the veteran catcher fired down to Murphy at second to catch a runner stealing and end the inning. However, Longwood could not capitalize on the momentum in its next at-bat, as the side was retired in order. The Lancers turned RU away scoreless for the first time in fourth, as Morris earned a strikeout and forced a groundout to bring her squad back up to the dish. This time, Longwood took advantage of the opportunity, plating one run to tie the score at 3-3. With two outs, freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-3, 1 run) sent a high chopper to third for a base hit and Shinrock followed with a single of her own before both advanced on wild pitch and Nishitomi followed with the RBI.

Solid defense on Longwood's part quickly shut down Radford in the top of the fifth. Cox showed off her reflexes as she snagged a laser down the third base line. Morris fielded a grounder for the second out of the inning and Barbour ended things when she held the bag on the throw from Murphy for the force out, despite having her glove knocked clear off her hand. In the home half of the fifth, Sciacca put runners on second and third with a double down the right field line. Freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (1-3, 3 RBI) connected for the sacrifice fly before Murphy, who had reached on a fielder's choice, tagged up and slid head-first at the plate to beat the throw, giving Longwood the go-ahead run at 4-3.

Radford went three up and three down in the top of the sixth before the Lancers rallied to pull away and secure the victory. Shinrock walked, Nishitomi singled and Baltzell was issued an intentional walk to load the bases. Nishitomi was pegged near second base with a hard liner and was out on the interference call, but Murphy followed with base hit to short right to plate a pair of insurance runs, making it 6-3. Sciacca walked to load the bases once again and Adams blasted a two-out line drive back up middle to give Longwood an 8-3 margin. In the top of the seventh, the Highlanders were able to score once more with a double off the wall, but the Lancers held on to take the 8-4 victory.