RADFORD, Va. – Senior Brooke Short/Hurt recorded four hits in five at-bats with five runs and three RBI to propel the Longwood University softball team to a pair of victories at Big South Conference opponent Radford University (14-22, 7-5 BSC) on Wednesday afternoon in Radford. The Lancers (29-11, 11-5 BSC) earned a 9-1 win in five innings in game one before taking a 12-3 decision in the nightcap. The effort from Longwood's circle was pivotal in the victories, as sophomore Libby Morris/Dillwyn turned in eight-plus innings of work, starting both games, and allowing just three hits and one earned run. Senior Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth came on in relief in game two to hurl a one-hitter over three-plus scoreless innings. Longwood will return to action on Monday, April 15 when the squad plays a doubleheader at Liberty University beginning at 5 p.m.

The Lancers took a 1-0 advantage with two outs in the top of the first in game one when Short drilled a liner over the fence in left center for the solo home run. In the home half of the inning, Radford got a leadoff walk, but Longwood quickly ended the inning with a fielder's choice, a pop up to freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (3-6, 4 runs, 3 RBI) at shortstop and a diving catch across the first baseline in foul territory by freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (0-6, 1 RBI).

In the top of the second, senior Jordan Cox/Springfield (3-8, 1 run, 4 RBI) reached on an error by the RU first baseman, but was left stranded there. The Highlanders also left a runner on first in the second, keeping the Lancers lead intact. Longwood's offense went back to work in the third, as sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, California (0-5, 1 run, 1 RBI) sent a chopper to the shortstop and reached on the fielding miscue, and classmate Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (3-6, 1 run, 1 RBI) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford (2-7, 2 runs, 3 RBI) tagged a three-run home run to left center in the next at-bat, extending the Lancers' margin to 4-0. The Highlanders changed pitchers before Short, Murphy and sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. (0-5, 3 runs) earned consecutive walks.  Freshman Carley Adams/Colonial Heights (3-7, 1 run, 3 RBI) hit a deep fly to the warning track in left, knocking in a pair of runs, and Cox followed with a three-run long ball to make it 9-0 with no outs. 

The Highlanders were retired in order in the bottom of the third with the help of a pair strikeouts from Morris. Murphy poked a one-out single down the left field line in the top of the fourth, but would not advance further. Radford put a runner on with a double to the wall in the bottom of the inning, but could not capitalize. Cox hit a blooper to short right to leadoff the fifth, but pinch runner Amy Putnam/Poquoson was caught stealing second in the next at-bat. Radford ended the shutout in the home half of the inning with a solo homer to left, but the Lancers forced two groundouts to seal the 9-1, mercy-rule decision.

In game two, the Longwood attack went back to work early, as Nishitomi drew a leadoff walk, Short hit an infield single and Murphy fisted a fly ball down the left field line for the RBI, giving the Lancers a 1-0 advantage. Sciacca and Adams drew consecutive walks to make it 2-0 before Cox sent a hard hit grounder to the shortstop, who tried to catch Murphy at the plate, but could not. Barbour then reached on an error, but recorded the RBI to put Longwood ahead, 4-0. Longwood played solid defense in the bottom of the inning behind Morris once again, recording a pop up and a pair of groundouts.

In the second, Short sent a one-out base hit up the middle before Murphy blasted a long ball over the fence in left to make it 6-0 in favor of the Lancers. In the home half of the inning, the Highlanders advanced a runner to second after a walk and a pass ball, but were unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Cox roped a single down the line to start the third. Barbour laid down the sacrifice bunt and pinch runner Amy Putnam advanced to third on the play with heads up running. Putnam then tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Shinrock to extend the visitors' buffer to seven.

Radford's leadoff batter in the bottom of the third benefited from a three-base error, and the squad put runners on the corners with a walk. RU posted its first run of the game on an infield groundout and followed with a two-run home run to pull within four at 7-3. Adams logged a one-out single in the top of the fourth when she turned on an inside pitch and sent a shot through the right side and Barbour reached on an error, but both were left there. Cornell replaced Morris with one out in the bottom of the fourth sit down the Radford side.

The Lancers maintained their lead through the sixth, as neither side was able to plate a run. Nishitomi led off the seventh with a solo homer to make it 8-3. Baltzell drew a walk in the next at-bat and Short belted a two-run home run to put Longwood on top, 10-3. Murphy and Sciacca each earned a base on ball and both scored on a throwing error to give the Lancers their 12-3 margin of victory.

Combined with the Lancers 8-4 home win over the Highlanders earlier this season, Wednesday's doubleheader marked the first time Radford has ever been swept in conference series since the league started playing them in 2007.