Region News

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Published: May 10, 2008

Senior shortstop Dara Sandifer (Holy Cross) had four hits Saturday, including the game-winning double in the eighth inning as the Lynchburg College softball team advanced to the Championship Game of the Methodist University Regional with a 2-1 win over Neumann College (Penn.).

The Hornets (38-5) scored one run in the top of the first. Junior Brittany Allsop led off with a line-drive single and moved from first to third on a well-placed sacrifice bunt from Audra Della Rosa. Elizabeth Perkins followed with a sacrifice fly to give LC an early 1-0 lead.

The Knights answered back in their half of the first with a two-out run scoring double from Jennifer Goslin to tie the game at one.

Della Rosa led off the eighth with a single to right field, Perkins sacrificed her to second and a ground out moved the runner to third. Sandifer followed with a double to left field to score Della Rosa and put LC ahead 2-1. Katie Bruce retired Neumann in order in the bottom of the eighth to secure the victory

Bruce (19-3) went all eight innings on the hill for the Hornets, allowed two hits, two walks and struck out three. She gave up no hits and just one walk in the final seven innings.

Lynchburg, the only team still undefeated in the region in the double elimination format, will play at noon with the Hornets needing just one win to claim the region title. The Hornets’ opponent would need to take two straight for LC to win the region title.

Big South

Top-seeded Winthrop scored a pair of runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings en route to a 6-1 victory over Liberty to claim its second-straight Big South title in Game 10 of the 2008 Big South Softball Championship at Terry Field.

Winthrop (36-17) advances to next weekend’s NCAA Regional championships. The loss brings to a close Liberty’s 2008 season with a 20-40-1 record.

Baseball

Virginia Tech 7, Miami 6

Hokie freshman Justin Wright tied a career high with seven strikeouts while throwing a complete game to help the Virginia Tech (21-30, 5-22 ACC) stun top-ranked Miami (41-6, 22-3) 7-6 in the opening game of an ACC doubleheader at English Field. Fellow rookie Austin Wates doubled in the deciding run with two outs in the eighth as the Hokies rallied from a 5-1 deficit to earn the win.

North Carolina 5, Virginia 2

Second-ranked North Carolina defeated No. 24 Virginia 5-2 in front of 2,847 fans at Davenport Field.

Virginia’s offense struggled to get untracked all evening, as the Cavaliers (33-17, 13-13 ACC) were held to five hits by the nation’s top-ranked pitching staff, with only one hit coming after the fourth inning

Liberty sweeps Longwood

Liberty right-hander Dustin Umberger went the distance for the first time this season as the Flames won the first game of the their doubleheader with Longwood 5-3.

Liberty starter David Stokes held the Lancers in check through seven innings and catcher Errol Hollinger collected three hits as the Flames (28-23) completed a sweep of the Lancers (22-25) with 12-4 victory in the second game.