Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford compiled a team-best four RBI on two hits in six at-bats, as the Longwood University softball team suffered a pair of setbacks at the No.3/4 ranked University of Florida (44-5) on Saturday evening. The doubleheader, which was originally scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., finally got under way at 5 p.m. with the Lancers (33-13) falling, 5-1, in game one. In game two, Longwood was defeated, 9-5, despite a seventh-inning rally. Senior Brooke Short/Hurt led the Lancers with a .429 batting average (3-7) for the day, while freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia hit .333 (2-6) to add to the offensive effort. Longwood will wrap up its three-game series at Florida tomorrow, Sunday, April 21, with a single game beginning at 12 p.m.

The Gators struck first in game one, retiring the Longwood side in order in the top of the first before plating two runs in the bottom of the inning to take an early advantage. Florida's leadoff batter reached on a throwing error, and the next two hitters followed with a walk and a RBI single for the first run of the day. The home squad's second run would come later in the inning off a two-out shot through the left side.

The squads played a tough defensive battle through the next two scoreless innings. The Lancers left a runner stranded in the top of the second, as freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (2-7, 1 RBI) led off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Florida collected a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. The Gators also had one hit in the second, but were unable to capitalize. In the third, Longwood went three up and three down, while Florida left yet another runner on base.

Longwood got on the board in the top of the fourth with the help of three hits. Baltzell doubled down the left field line and Short followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners. Murphy stepped in the box next and connected for her second hit of the game to score Baltzell, cutting the deficit to just one at 2-1. The Lancers rolled the momentum in the defensive half of the inning, quickly sitting down the Gators' side with three-straight groundouts. Neither side was able to plate a run in the fifth, and although Longwood connected three times in the sixth, the visiting side was unable to get anything going.

The Gators added three insurance runs in the bottom of sixth with a pair of home runs to take a 5-1 advantage. In Longwood's final at-bat, senior Jordan Cox/Springfield (1-5) recorded a two-out single, but was unable to score, as the Lancers fell by a 5-1 margin. Sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn recorded the decision in the circle, hurling five innings with seven hits, three earned runs and one strikeout. Senior Ashley Cornell/Portsmouth closed the game with one perfect inning of work, including one strikeout.

In the nightcap, Florida logged the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, putting runners on first and second with an error and a walk before scoring on a double through the right side. Freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-5) became Longwood's first base runner of the game in the top of the second after reaching on a fielding error, but the squad was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. The Gators then extended their lead to 2-0 in the home half of the inning with a solo homer in the leadoff position.

The Lancers knotted the game at 2-2 in the top of the third, as sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, California (1-5, 2 runs) tagged a one-bagger through the left side to ignite the offensive attack. Sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (0-7, 1 run) put the ball in play in the next at-bat and a three-base throwing error by the Gators' third baseman allowed Shinrock to score. Baltzell followed with a long sacrifice fly to plate Nishitomi and tie the game. Florida quickly answered in the bottom of the inning, however, using a two-run home run to go ahead, 4-2. After Longwood could not make any noise in the fourth, the Gators pulled away with a five-run rally on three hits, including a double, triple and a home run, making it 9-2 in favor of the home team.

Neither side scored in the next two innings, as the Longwood defense played especially tough in the bottom of the sixth. The Gators had runners on second and third with just one out, but the Lancers executed a fielder's choice to throw the lead runner out at home before Adams made a great diving catch in shallow center field to get Longwood out of the inning unscathed.

The Lancers had their biggest offensive showing of the day in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs to pull within four. Cox led off with a walk and Shinrock reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and third. Baltzell followed with a three-run blast over the fence in left field to make it 9-5, but the squad was unable to come any closer. Short and Cornell combined for the decision in the circle. Short threw the first 3.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Cornell finished the game with three hits and three runs.