Yet another non-conference opponent rolled into The Park yesterday and swept the Virginia softball team. The Longwood Lancers (24-20) took out the Cavaliers (16-24, 5-3 ACC) in two games, 5-2 and 7-2.
The Lancers carried the momentum from the 5-2 victory in the first game into the nightcap of the doubleheader, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Attacking sophomore pitcher Coty Tolar, Longwood made contact early in the pitch counts, not wasting any time taking pitches. Freshmen Ryan Washington and Caitlin Hooe set the tone, slapping two singles to get the Lancers going. Senior Jen Steele knocked in Washington on a suicide squeeze bunt, and senior Megan Camden knocked a single into leftfield to score Hooe, giving the Lancers the 2-0 lead.
The Cavaliers continued to unravel in the third inning, as three consecutive infield ground balls resulted in three Virginia errors, giving the Lancers two more runs and a 4-0 lead. With the bases loaded, it was Washington again delivering for Longwood, this time cranking a double off the centerfield wall that cleared the bases, bumping Longwood's lead to 7-0. All five runs in the third for the Lancers were unearned.
"We didn't do what we are supposed to do," Sprangel said. "We didn't execute. If we don't make three errors in that one inning, it's probably a 2-2 game. We're not doing the right thing."
In the bottom of the third on a two-out rally, freshman Kierstie Cameron walked with the bases full, scoring freshman Lindsay Preuss from third.
The Cavaliers got another run in the fifth inning, as leadoff hitter junior Jessica Taylor blasted a triple off the right field wall. After two ground outs, senior Jenn Wynn slapped a single to center to score Taylor.
"Jess really attacked the ball," Sprangel said. "She was the one that was waiting for a good pitch. She found a good pitch and attacked it. She's been one of the most consistent hitters all year, really attacking the ball."
Taylor, who nearly willed a couple of rallies for the Cavaliers and went 5-7 on the day with three extra-base hits, tried again to get a rally started in the seventh by knocking a double to the right-center gap in the outfield. Three consecutive fielder's choice ground balls, however, ended the inning -- and the game -- for the Cavaliers.
"I don't think we are all on the same page," Taylor said. "If the pitcher makes a mistake, the defense picks her up. If the defense makes a mistake, the pitching gets the out. Likewise with hitting, if someone gets on, we've got to put it play and hit it hard."
Washington was the catalyst for the Lancers yesterday, going 4-8 with four RBIs while making spectacular defensive plays from shortstop. Twice in the second game, Washington made diving catches and stops to kill Virginia rallies.
In the first game, Longwood rode the back of senior Jen Steele, who pitched the entire game for the Lancers while also batting cleanup and going 1-3 with an RBI. The Lancers also got two hits and two RBIs, including a home run in the fourth inning, from Camden.
Next up for the Cavaliers is another home doubleheader today against a non-conference foe, Liberty University (16-20), at 3 p.m. at The Park.
"We played Liberty in the fall in a tournament at Virginia Tech where we got to the championship, and they beat us," senior captain Lauren Dennis said. "We definitely need to come out hungry and go after them."
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