February 20, 2011

Box Score: Longwood 4, Quinnipiac 1
Box Score: Longwood 11, IUPUI 3

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University softball team defeated Quinnipiac University 4-1 and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis 11-3 on Sunday on the second day of the Lancer Leadoff at Lancer Field in Farmville. Sophomore Brooke Short|Altavista (Altavista) went 5-for-8 with two home runs and five RBI while senior Nichole Simmons|Chesapeake (Hickory) went 3-for-5 with one home run and two RBI to lead the Lancers (4-0). Longwood scored in bunches, scoring multiple runs in two innings against Quinnipiac (1-3) and four innings against IUPUI (4-4). The Lancers return to action on Friday, February 25, when they host the University of Delaware of the Colonial Athletic Association for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at Lancer Field in Farmville. Admission is free to all Longwood University softball games.

In the Quinnipiac game, senior Brittany Matthews|Farmville (Prince Edward) (1-3) started the inning with a triple down the right field line. Senior Kami Nuckols|Glen Allen (Patrick Henry) (0-4) reached on a fielders choice to put a runner on first and third. Matthews scored when classmate Maggie Margadonna|Sea Girt, N.J. (Wall Township) (0-2, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to right field that was dropped, allowing everyone to advance one base. Sophomore Jordan Cox|Springfield (Robert E. Lee) (1-2, RBI) hit a RBI single to score Nuckols and give the Lancers the 2-0 lead after three innings. The Bobcats scored one run in the top of the fifth inning when Joelle Jacobsen scored on a RBI double by Julia Sini. The Lancers answered in the bottom-half of the inning when Short (3-3) singled and Cox and Simmons (1-2) followed with walks to load the bases. Short scored on a wild pitch and then junior Ashley Kramer|Ashburn (Broad Run) (0-1, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive Cox home and give the Lancers the 4-1 lead.

Sophomore Brittany Shotwell|Roxboro, N.C. (Louisburg College) (1-0, 0.88 ERA) started in the circle for the Lancers and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in five innings while earning the victory. Senior Briana Wells|Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (3-0, 2.10 ERA) picked up the save after pitching two perfect innings. Quinnipiac's Heather Schwartzburg (0-2) received the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in six innings.

Against IUPUI, the Lancers had 13 extra-base hits with nine doubles and four home runs. Longwood jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on a three-run home run to right-center field by Short (2-5, 5 RBI, 3 runs). Longwood added three runs in the third inning, the first two on a two-run home run to left-center field by Simmons (2-3, 2 RBI). Kramer (2-4, 2 doubles) scored from second on a RBI double by Wells (1-4) to make the score 6-0 after 2 1/2 innings. Junior Leigh Sexton|Suffolk (Randolph College) (1-2) hit a double for her first hit as a Lancer and would score on a double by Cox (2-5, 2 RBI). Cox would later score on a Kramer double to put the Lancers ahead 8-0. IUPUI scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the game. The Lancers added three runs in the seventh inning, including three runs on back-to-back home runs by Cox and Short. The Jaguars scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the final 11-3.

Wells gave up three runs on three hits with three walks in seven innings in the win. Samantha Bumbaugh received the loss after giving up five runs, four earned, on four hits in 2.1 innings.