Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, California went 2-for-4 at the plate to pace the Longwood University softball team in an 8-7 setback against in-state and Big South Conference opponent Liberty University (17-18, 6-7 BSC) on Monday evening at Lancer Field. Sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. and freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach both hit .500 in the outing, as well, going 1-for-2 with one RBI apiece. The Lancers erased a 6-1 deficit in the sixth inning to knot the game at 6-6 before giving up the deciding runs in the seventh. Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford added to the offensive effort with a team-high two RBI in the decision. Sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn pitched the final two innings in relief with one strikeout and two runs allowed to record the loss. Longwood (27-11, 9-5 BSC) will return to action on Wednesday, April 10 when the squad travels to Radford University to square off in a conference twin bill beginning at 4 p.m.

The Flames leadoff hitter slapped a base hit to shallow center to start things off. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on single up the middle to put the visitors ahead, 1-0.  The Lancers were unable to get the run back in the bottom of the first, as the side was retired in order. Baltzell threatened to record a one-out gapper for Longwood, but despite a collision in the outfield, the Flames' center fielder held on for the out. 

Longwood played solid defense in the second to quickly sit down the opposition and used the momentum to tie the game at 1-1. Murphy drew a walk and stole second to get in scoring position for Sciacca, who singled through the left side to plate the squad's first run of the outing. The stalemate would not hold for long, though, as Liberty used a bunt single and a double that short-hopped the wall in left to pull ahead, 2-1. The Flames tallied two more hits in the inning, while taking advantage of a pair of Longwood errors, creating a 5-1 buffer, but the Lancers were able to get out of the inning on great diving play from behind the plate by Baltzell, who sprawled out to catch a botched bunt attempt.

The four-run margin would stay the same for the next two and a half innings, as the sides combined for seven runners left on base. Shinrock tallied a one-out blooper to left and stole second for the Lancers in the bottom of the third, but was left stranded after a pair of fly outs. Liberty went three up and three down in the top of the fourth, and Longwood put runners aboard with a walk by Murphy and a slow-roller by Sciacca, but the Lancers could not capitalize.

Both Liberty and Longwood left two on in the fifth to keep the score the same before the Flames added one more in the top of the sixth. The Lancers committed back-to-back errors putting Liberty runners on second and third, and the next batter followed with a single to load the bases. Another Lancer error would make it 6-1, but Longwood got out of inning with a nine-two double play.

Longwood fought back, however, making it a whole new ball game in the bottom of the sixth. The squad loaded the bases with a walk from Sciacca, a bunt single by freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (1-4, 1 run) and a base hit to center by senior Jordan Cox/Springfield (1-4) before freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) stepped into the box and tagged a RBI single to left, making it 6-2. Sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii (1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI) turned on a pitch early in next at-bat to cut the deficit to just three and Baltzell followed with a base-clearing single to tie the game at 6-6. 

In the final inning, Liberty regained a two-run buffer. The leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sac bunt and advanced to third on wild pitch before scoring on a double to left center. On the next play, a Longwood throwing error allowed another Liberty run to score and give the visitors an 8-6 buffer. The Lancers made a valiant effort in their final at-bat, as Murphy drilled a leadoff homer to left center to cut the margin to just one. Longwood put runners on first and second after a pair of walks, but Liberty snuffed out the comeback opportunity to hand the Lancers the 8-7 decision.