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Brooke Short's Postgame Feature on ABC 13 in Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights went 5-for-6 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored to propel the Longwood University softball team to a pair of Big South Conference road victories at Liberty University (19-23, 8-10) on Monday evening. The Lancers (31-11, 13-5 BSC) defeated the Flames 14-6 in game one and 9-2 in game two to secure its ninth, 30-win season under head coach Kathy Riley. Sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California added to the offensive effort with a career-high three doubles in game one en route to a .625 average for the day, while senior Brooke Short/Hurt went 3-for-5 with a team-high five RBI and five runs scored. Short also contributed in the circle with 10 strikeouts in nine innings to pick up both decisions. Longwood will return to action on Wednesday, April 17 when the squad travels to Virginia Tech for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.

Longwood got off to a quick start in the top of the first in game one, as sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford (2-7, 4 runs, 1 RBI) drilled a high fly over the fence in straight away center to put the Lancers ahead, 1-0. The Flames tried to retaliate in the bottom of the inning, putting the leadoff batter on with a single, but solid defense by the Lancers retired the next three to end the at-bat.

In the second, Adams singled up the middle and senior Jordan Cox/Springfield (3-8, 1 run, 2 RBI) reached on an error. Freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-6, 1 run, 1 RBI) was called for getting hit with the ball outside the box while attempting to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (1-7, 2 runs, 1 RBI) successfully bunted in the next spot and beat out the throw to load the bases with one out. Sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (5-9, 2 runs, 3 RBI) followed with a double off the wall to plate the two lead runners, giving Longwood a three-run margin. Baltzell struck out swinging, but raced towards first after the Liberty catcher dropped the ball. The Flames were able to get Baltzell on the putout at first, but Shinrock used her speed to take advantage of the throw down and score another run for Longwood, making it 4-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Flames made noise in the bottom of the second, as the squad put its first two batters on base and the next followed with a three-run home run to cut the deficit to just one at 4-3. The Lancers went back to work in the third, however, with a four-run rally. Freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (2-6, 3 runs, 4 RBI) drew a walk to get things started before stealing second and third. Sciacca followed with a RBI double to left center, giving Longwood a 5-3 advantage. Adams and Cox hit back-to-back singles to extend the visitor's lead to 6-3 and force a Liberty pitching change. Both runners stole on the next pitch to move into scoring position and Barbour followed with a RBI single. Shinrock grounded out to the shortstop, but sophomore pinch runner Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth was able to score on the throw to give the Lancers an 8-3 margin. 

After Liberty pulled within three in its next at-bat on a two-run home run, Short got one back for the Lancers in the fourth with her 50th career home run, making it 9-5. Longwood retired the Liberty side in order in the home half of the inning, and although Nishitomi tagged a base hit up the middle in the fifth, the Lancers were unable to add to their lead.

In the top of the sixth, Short and Murphy drew consecutive walks before Sciacca belted a liner down the left field line and Adams notched a sacrifice fly to put Longwood ahead, 11-5. The Flames posted a long ball in their next at-bat to pull within five, but Short took over in the circle and put together three outs to get out of the inning.

Shinrock led off with a walk in the seventh, Nishitomi logged a double and Baltzell earned a free pass to load the bases. Shinrock scored on a sacrifice fly by Short, and Murphy singled up the middle to plate a pair of runs and give Longwood its 14-6 margin of victory.

In the nightcap, Baltzell roped a one-out single through the right side and Short knocked a long ball over the right field fence to give Longwood a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first. Sciacca walked before Adams and Cox found gaps in the shallow outfield to extend Longwood's margin to three. The Flames left one stranded in the bottom of the inning and the Lancers only runner in the next at-bat was called out for leaving early to keep the score the same. With one out in the bottom of the second, Liberty got on the board with a deep home run to right center, making it 3-1 in favor of the visitors, but the Flames would not come any closer in the inning, as Short recorded a strikeout and caught a liner back to her. Longwood also threatened in the third, putting its leadoff runner aboard with a walk from Short. Sciacca followed with a base hit through the left side and both runners advanced on a groundout, but neither would cross the plate before the inning expired, keeping the 3-1 margin the same.

The offensive silence continued through the top of the fourth, as both sides went three up and three down in their next at-bat. Liberty ended the silence in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of base hits and a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to just one at 3-2. The Lancers retaliated in the fifth when Baltzell and Short logged back-to-back walks, and both runners advanced on an infield fly. Adams came to the plate in the next spot and turned on an inside pitch that she sent sharply through the right side to add a pair of insurance runs for Longwood, making the score 5-2. In the home half of the inning, the Lancers defense quickly sat down the Flames with a pair of strikeouts from Short and a groundout.

In the sixth, Barbour walked and advanced on a groundout before Nishitomi ripped a single back up the middle for a RBI to make it 6-2. Short followed with a base hit to center to score Nishitomi and Murphy added a two-run homer to give the Lancers a 9-2 advantage. Neither side was able to score again in the final inning and a half, as Longwood secured the decision.