The Longwood University softball team opened its season with losses at the University of South Carolina last week. The Lancers lost 5-1 in the first game and 9-2 in the second game. The first game of the day saw junior Kami Nuckols lead the Lancers going 2-for-6 with a double and two runs. Longwood allowed two runs in the bottom of the second inning and two more in the third inning falling behind 4-0. South Carolina put one run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. Longwood responded with one run in the top of the sixth when sophomore Courtney Long was walked with the bases-loaded to score Nuckols. Junior Briana Wells started in the first game and pitched four innings. She gave up five runs on eight hits and walked four batters. Lauren Lackey went 2-for-2 scoring one run with two RBI in the first game.
The Gamecocks struck early in the second game, scoring four runs in the first and three more in the second inning. Longwood responded with two runs in the top of the third, the first coming when senior Amy Betterton scored on a Tricia Nelson double to left-center field. Nuckols scored her second run of the day when junior Nichole Simmons singled to centerfield and Nuckols scored from second base. Wells got the start, but was relieved by freshman Brooke Short. Short pitched four innings and gave up two runs on three hits while striking out three.
The Lancers split two games on Saturday Feb. 20, defeating Fordham University 4-0 before losing to Morehead State University 7-5. The games were played in Newport News after the Lancer Leadoff Classic was cancelled due to the poor field conditions at home in Farmville. Short was 2-for-6 on the day with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Wells collected the win against Fordham giving up three hits in 7 1/3 scoreless innings.
The ladies then won a pair of games on Sunday, Feb. 21 defeating Morehead State University 8-0 and Quinnipiac University 6-5. Short was 4-for-8 with three extra-base hits, four RBI and scored four runs. Wells won both games, pitching a seven-inning, three-hit shutout against Morehead State.
In the game with Morehead State, the Lancers came out of the gate with a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Maggie Margadonna scored on a single by Nuckols. The Lancers scored three more runs in the fourth inning. Brittany Matthews drove in two of those runs with a single. Longwood added four runs in the sixth inning on two two-run home runs, one by Short and the other by Betterton. Wells pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout with four strikeouts to her tally.
In the game against Quinnipiac, the Bobcats struck first with a five-run third inning. The Lancers answered in the third inning with five runs, including two on a RBI double by Short. Short scored on a single by Simmons. Simmons and Long also scored in the third to tie the game at 5-5. In the seventh inning, Short led off with a triple. Two batters later, Ashley Kramer singled and Short scored, giving the Lancers the 6-5 win. Brittany Spencer was the staring pitcher and went five innings, giving up five runs, three of them earned, on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Wells came in for relief and pitched the last two innings, giving up just one hit.
Betterton was 3-for-5 on the day with three RBI and one home run. Matthews went 2-for-5 with three RBI while Nuckols went 4-for-7 with one RBI. All in all, it was a very powerful performance by the Lancers offensively.
Head Coach Kathy Riley commented on how her team had performed during the first six games.
"Number one we showed improvement defensively," said Coach Riley. "When you start playing together you get more cohesive. The most important thing was that offensively it was a pretty solid team effort. We start to look for little improvements. It's just a matter of staying on top of things and staying excited about the games. When you have a 56 game schedule you have lulls because of travel and academics and everything is hard for you because you have a lot to do.
It is important to get enough rest so when you get to the games you can really enjoy what is going on."
The Lancers return to the diamond on Thursday, Feb. 25 when they take on Towson University in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
