Lancers Make an Impact Before Falling to No. 24 Liberty, 9-2
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Longwood softball team came out with a surge of determination, striking first against the formidable No. 24 Liberty Flames. Their hard work, however, could not stave off Liberty’s relentless comeback, culminating in a 9-2 win for the Flames at Kamphuis Field on Wednesday.
A Promising Start for the Lancers
In a season that’s been a rollercoaster ride, the Lancers scored first for only the 10th time this year, making an immediate impact with a fiery start. The opening inning saw Brooke Bennett ignite the offense with a sharp single to left field. Following her lead, Avery Miller notched a powerful double to left-center, positioning both herself and Bennett for scoring opportunities.
The Lancers’ momentum surged as Maggie Hiatt connected with a single that settled perfectly up the middle, driving Bennett home. A misplay by Liberty’s center fielder, KK Madrey, allowed both pinch runner Kate Westmiller and Miller to cross the plate, securing an early 2-0 lead.
Liberty’s Resilience Soon Takes Charge
But the game is a saga of ups and downs, and Liberty was not to be quieted for long. The Flames answered back in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on a mix of well-placed hits and errors. Madrey began the rally with a quick bunt single. Following a series of errors that allowed Savannah Whatley to round the bases, the Flames tied the game at 2-2 on a crucial field error that allowed Paige Doerr to score.
A pivotal moment unfolded when Rachel Craine doubled to bring Doerr home, sending Liberty into the lead for the first time, now at 3-2.
Flames Extend Their Commanding Lead
Liberty’s potent offense continued to roll, extending their lead to 6-2 in the third inning. A sacrifice fly by Brynn McManus paved the way for another run, followed closely by Whatley’s impressive RBI single. Capping the inning, Doerr showcased her skills with a triple to right-center, further pushing the score up along with two runs batting in.
The Lancers attempted to fight back in the fourth, loading the bases against Liberty’s Tyler Oubre and reliever Paige Bachman via a single from Bailey Bucholz and walks to Sarah Terrell and Naleya Bridges. Nevertheless, Bachman stood her ground, preventing any runs from crossing home plate.
The Final Stretch
As the game progressed, Liberty seized the opportunity to reach their final score of 9-2. The sixth inning saw Craine contributing once more with a riveting RBI double, followed by a sacrifice fly from Woodard, sealing the game for Liberty.
Performance Highlights
Bachman capped her performance with an impressive four innings of relief, allowing just one hit, striking out five batters while improving her record to 6-1. Conversely, Lancer’s Morgan Strickland took the loss, falling to 0-5 after allowing 6 runs over three innings with eight hits.
Offensively, Hiatt shined for Longwood, reaching 2-for-4 and bringing in an RBI. Bennett followed closely with a 2-for-3 outing as Liberty’s batting depth shone through, highlighted by two hits each from Whatley, Madrey, Doerr, and Craine, solidifying their team’s status at 28-6.
Looking Ahead
The Lancers, now at 6-22, are set to regroup and will strive to return to winning form as they kick off a Big South series against Gardner-Webb on Saturday, March 29, at 1 p.m. This matchup will undoubtedly test their resilience as they look to harness the fire displayed in the early innings against Liberty.
For a closer look at the upcoming games and more Lancer news, visit Longwood Athletics.
Will the Longwood Lancers rise to the occasion in their next matchup? Stay tuned as they navigate their challenging season!
