Virginia softball was swept aside by Longwood twice Wednesday afternoon, dropping the first game of the doubleheader 6-4 and falling 8-4 in the encore.
The Lancers (22-7, 9-2 Big South) pounced on sophomore pitcher Aimee Chapdelaine in the first inning to score three runs. Chapdelaine took the loss in the complete game, five strikeout effort.
Aided by two errors, Virginia (4-29, 1-13 ACC) tied the game in the top of the third. Junior outfielder Heidi Velk singled to score junior Megan Harris. Both Velk and senior second baseman Marcy Bowdren would later score on an error.
In the bottom of the sixth, Longwood broke a 4-4 tie for good. A throwing error allowed freshman right fielder Taylor Hedrick to score. Sophomore third baseman Carly Adams then scored on a sacrifice fly, and Virginia was subsequently held scoreless in the top of the seventh to end the game.
In the second game, the Lancers scored seven runs in the first two innings to pull away early. Junior catcher Megan Baltzell hit a two-run bomb in the first and drove in two more with a double in the second.
Virginia managed to scratch out one run in the top half of the third thanks to a single by freshman third baseman Lindsay Mayer, which scored Bowdren.
The Cavaliers struck again in the fourth when Bowdren hit a three-run home run to left field, the 20th of her career. However, Bowdren’s shot was not enough to overcome the seven-run deficit. Neither team scored the final three innings as the Lancers completed the sweep, 8-4.
Chapdelaine was charged with the loss in game two. She went the full six innings, giving up eight runs — six earned — while striking out three. Her record is now 4-25.
Virginia will host North Carolina for a weekend series Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and at 12 p.m. Sunday.
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