Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
Longwood
Softball's Win Streak Snapped By Longwood
February 20, 2011 | Softball
Box Score
FARMVILLE, Va. - Designated player Brooke Short ripped a grand slam in the bottom of a six-run fourth inning as host Longwood rallied for a 7-2 win over Army's softball team Saturday afternoon in closing out the first day of the Lancer Leadoff Classic.
Longwood, which went 2-0 on the opening day of its tournament, snapped the Black Knights' modest four-game win streak as they fell to 4-2. Army split its games the first day after holding off Quinnipiac's late rally in a 5-3 victory in the morning.
In its second game of the day, the Black Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead on single runs in the third and fourth inning. Freshman Amanda Nguyen opened the scoring in the top of the third inning when she was delivered on Alex Reynolds' two-run single up the middle after drawing a walk and advancing to second on a fielder's choice. With runners in the corners, winner Briana Wells, who yielded four hits, walked one and struck out seven batters over six innings in the circle, denied Army insurance runs when she got the next batter to line out to the shortstop.
The Black Knights added a run in their next at-bat on catcher Rachael Duval's solo home run to left center field with one out to pull ahead 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning. The round tripper is her first of the season and career 12th to move into a tie for sixth place on Army's career list. After yielding her second hit in that inning to the Black Knights, a single by Alexis AuBuchon, Wells retired the side with a strikeout; then held Army hitless over the fifth and sixth innings.
Army starter Shawna Bleyl (1-2) kept Longwood off the scoreboard over the first three innings, getting out of a jam in the bottom of the third after being touched for two of her seven hits. With two outs and runners at first and second, Bleyl closed the door with a strikeout.
Longwood broke open the game in the home half of the fourth inning, plating six runs after capitalizing on four hits, along with an error, to erase Army's 2-0 lead. The Lancers chased Bleyl after she was touched for the two-out grand slam on Short's lone hit of the game in three at bats. Freshman Marina Northup took over the circle, and after walking the first batter she faced, the right-hander got out of the inning on an infield popup.
Northup retired the side in the bottom of the fifth before yielding a pair of hits and a run in the sixth inning as Longwood held a five-run lead when Wells departed.
Tricia Shotwell, who replaced Wells in the seventh inning, gave up a leadoff single to freshman outfielder Meghan McGowan, who moved into scoring position on AuBuchon's groundout. After issuing her lone walk to Angela Deger, Shotwell struck out the next batter looking followed by an infield groundout to end the game.
Only two of Longwood's seven runs were earned, while both of Army's were earned. Duval had a double and home run in going 2-for-3 along with a run scored and RBI.
The Black Knights will look to rebound Sunday morning when they take on Quinnipiac in the first game, followed by IUPUI, who fell 8-1 to Longwood
