Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Junior Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. went 2-for-3 at the plate, as the Longwood University softball team fell, 3-2, against Big South Conference opponent Campbell University (24-23, 10-8) in the series finale between the squads. Longwood held onto a slight, one-run advantage for most of the game, but fell behind in the seventh and was unable to recover. Three other Lancers tallied one hit apiece, including junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth, who registered the team's lone RBI of the day. Longwood (30-9, 14-3) will return to action on Tuesday, April 15 when the squad welcomes Elon University to Lancer Field for a non-conference "Pink Out" doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m.
 
"We will have to take today as a learning experience and gain knowledge about how to prepare for every game," said head coach Kathy Riley. "Being very good requires certain ingredients and we will continue to strive for each and every player to possess those qualities."
 
Both squads got on the board in the first inning, as Campbell's Milly Martinet homered to center field before sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (0-4, 1 run)reached on a throwing error, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to knot the score at 1-1. The Fighting Camels stranded one runner in the top of the second, allowing the Lancers to pull ahead in the home half of the inning. Sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia (0-1, 1 run, 2 walks) got things started with a walk and freshman Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg (0-2) moved her over on a cleanly executed sacrifice bunt. Barbour advanced once again on a groundout by Augustine and Lifsey followed with a hard-hit single through the right side to make the score 2-1 in favor of Longwood.
 
McCarthy retired the CU side in order in the third before the Lancers threatened to extend their margin in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs thanks to hits from junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (1-3, 1 walk) and Sciacca, and a walk by Barbour, but the squad was unable to capitalize. The Lancers and the Fighting Camels logged one hit apiece in the fourth, although neither runner would cross the plate. In that at-bat for Longwood, Augustine singled up the middle and made it as far as third with a sacrifice bunt and a groundout before being left there.
 
The 2-1 margin remained intact through the fifth and sixth, as the squads combined for just one hit and one runner left on base. Campbell changed the momentum in the seventh with a one-out double to center field. A single and a walk loaded the bases, allowing CU to take advantage of a Longwood fielding miscue and plate two runs. The Lancers battled in their final chance at the dish, as Murphy reached on an error and stole second, but the team fell short of manufacturing the tying run, dropping the 3-2 decision.