Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a solo home run, with two runs scored and one RBI to propel the No. 3 seeded Longwood University softball team to a 5-1 victory against No. 2 Campbell University (39-20) on Saturday morning in the semifinal round of the 2013 Big South Conference Championship. With the decision, the Lancers (39-18) set a new program record for wins in a season, re-writing the previous record of 38 victories that was last set in 1999 (NCAA Division II). Senior Jordan Cox/Springfield also went 2-for-3 at the dish, while sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii hit .500 with one RBI in the outing to add to the offensive effort. Sophomore pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn earned her third straight victory for the Lancers, allowing just one run and five hits, while striking out three. Longwood has forced the “if necessary” game and will take on Campbell again at 2 p.m. this afternoon to determine which squad will advance to the title game tomorrow, Sunday, May 12.

“Today's game was complete for us because it was a team effort,” said head coach Kathy Riley. “It reminded me a little bit of yesterday in that we had different people step up for us. That happened today, as well, with a lot of hustle plays and really good defense. It started off on the mound with Libby Morris pitching another great game for us and keeping Campbell off balance, and then we helped ourselves on the bases and created opportunities for ourselves.”

Playing as the visitors for the first time in the tournament, the Lancers' offense went to work in the top of the first. Nishitomi led off with a chopper up the middle, but was out on the next play with a fielder's choice by Baltzell. Senior Brooke Short/Hurt (1-2, 1 RBI, 1 bb) followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for sophomore Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, California (1-4, 1 RBI), who found a whole in the middle of the field for a base hit that scored Baltzell, giving Longwood an early 1-0 advantage. The Lancers played solid defense in the home half of the inning, retiring the Campbell side in order with a groundout, a strikeout and an outstanding diving catch on a bunt attempt by Cox.

Cox came right back out and helped on offense, starting off the second with another single up the middle for the Lancers, but freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (0-3, 1 run) hit into a fielder's choice in the next at-bat for the first out of the inning. Sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (1-4, 1 run) got on with a rocket through the left side to put runners on the corners and Nishitomi knocked in a run with a blooper to shallow left to put Longwood up by two. Shinrock and Nishitomi both advanced on a double steal, and Baltzell walked to load the bases. Short then turned on a high, inside pitch that she ripped over the head of the CU first baseman for the RBI, giving the Lancers a 3-0 margin. The Fighting Camels were able to end the rally with back-to-back outs, leaving three runners stranded.

Campbell threatened with a leadoff double down the right field line to start the bottom of the second. The next batter followed with a single to center, but the Lancers came back with three consecutive outs, including a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to extinguish the opportunity. The Lancers were aggressive on offense once again in the top of the third, as Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (0-3, 1 run, 1 bb) led off with a walk and took two bases on a sacrifice bunt by Cox, however, the squad was unable to plate a run. The Fighting Camels bunted for a base hit in their next trip to the plate, but Cox recorded the first out of the inning with her second diving catch of the game. Campbell came back with a bouncing slap over the head of Morris to put runners on the corners and the next batter followed with a RBI fielder's choice to make it 3-1, but the Lancer's failed to get the out, as freshman Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-4) was called for pulling her foot off second. Longwood was able maintain its two run margin, though, with a pop out and an unassisted put out by Barbour.

Neither side was able to score a run in the next two innings. Baltzell legged out an infield single with one out in the top of the fourth and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but she would not cross the plate. After the Fighting Camels went three up and three down in the home half of the inning, Murphy took two bases on an error by the CU shortstop before advancing to third on a groundout by Cox, but she was left stranded. In the bottom of the fifth, Campbell's leadoff batter got on with a pop up that found a gap in the infield before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Morris struck out the next batter and ended the inning on the same play when she caught the runner trying to steal third.

Longwood added to its buffer in the top of the sixth, as Baltzell blasted a solo homer to left field with two outs to make it 4-1. The Fighting Camels opened their at-bat with a walk, but Longwood retired the next three consecutive batters. In the seventh and final inning, Adams reached on an error by the third baseman and Murphy got on board with a fielder's choice. Pinch runner Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth was caught stealing third, but Cox followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second. Barbour then reached on an error to the pitcher during a sacrifice bunt and Murphy scored unearned to give Longwood its 5-1 margin of victory that was sealed after the squad recorded three consecutive outs in the bottom of the inning.