Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford went 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs and RBI to lead the Longwood University softball team to a 9-4 victory against Big South Conference opponent Winthrop University (16-15, 4-4) early Sunday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville. Although WU jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, Longwood scored at least one run in every at-bat to secure the decision. With the win in the rubber match, the Lancers take the regular-series series against the Eagles, 2-1. Sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach and freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton added the offensive effort for the home squad, as each hit .667 (2-3) with two runs, while Murphy logged one RBI, as well. Junior Libby Morris/Dillwyn anchored the Lancers in the circle, striking out six en route to the victory. Longwood (17-6, 6-1) will return to action on Thursday, March 27 when the team hosts in-state and league rival Liberty for a 5 p.m. tilt.

"It was nice to see the kids fight back today," said head coach Kathy Riley. "Not only did they fight back yesterday after that one loss, but they came out and did it again today, and showed the competitive spirit that we need to keep growing as a group. The defense was better today. We're not hitting the ball the way we are capable of hitting, but to our credit we got 12 hits because we were really prepared to make sure that Longwood came out on top. We really worked hard and just tried to be the winner today."

Winthrop rallied with two outs in the top of the first, using back-to-back hits, including one deep to the corner in right field, to take an early 2-0 advantage. The Lancers chipped away at the deficit in their first chance at the dish, though, as Murphy led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a hard-hit infield single by Baltzell. Longwood then erased the difference in the second when sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI) reached on a fielder's choice and came home on a passed ball. In the same at-bat, Augustine drove the ball up the middle before scoring on a RBI single from Murphy, giving the Lancers a 3-2 edge.

The home squad put on a good defensive showing in the top of the third, holding WU scoreless thanks to a great diving catch in right field by junior Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. (1-3, 2 runs), and a strong throw from behind third by sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-3) to end the inning. Longwood used RBI from Barbour and senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson (0-3, 1 RBI) to plate two more runs in the bottom of the third and make the score 5-2. After retiring the Eagles' side in order in the fourth, the Lancers started the home half of the inning with a bloop single to shallow right center by Murphy. The runner advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Adams before scoring on a base hit through the right side by Baltzell to extend the lead to 6-2.

Winthrop cut the difference back to just two in the fifth on a two-out double to the wall in center, but Longwood added one in its at-bat, as Augustine reached on an error and scored on an infield liner back at the pitcher by junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth (1-2, 1 RBI) to make it a 7-4 game. In the bottom of the sixth, Baltzell stole home and caused a bad throw to the plate, allowing Sciacca to score, as well, giving the home squad its 9-4 margin of victory.