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Sports

Sachem East Softball Falls to Longwood

Arrows now 11-5 overall this season.

In a tightly contested matchup that saw three lead changes, it was Sachem East’s five errors and Longwood’s timely hitting that proved to be the difference as Longwood held on for the 5-4 victory on Monday afternoon at home.

After a scoreless first three innings, the two teams went back and forth for the latter part of the game, answering the other team back, after giving up runs in the previous inning.

Despite their resiliency, it was Sachem’s poor defense that led them to their second straight defeat and their second loss of the season to Longwood.

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“We hit very well, but our fielding was not good,” said Sachem coach Ralph Foreman. “We had five errors today and you can’t beat a good team when you have errors. [Longwood] didn’t make errors out there.”

East’s defensive woes started in the bottom on the fifth inning, when the first basemen dropped a throw by the shortstop that should have been the second out of the inning. Instead, it loaded the bases with one out. The next batter flied out to right field, though the runner on third base wasn’t tagging on the play, the outfielder’s throw to home went way over the catcher’s glove, allowing that runner to score and tieing the game at two.

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Sachem had another throwing error in the next inning that allowed Longwood to have an extra out and base runner. That runner would come around to score and give Longwood the cushion that they would need for their win.

Sam Smith had another good game for Sachem in the loss. Smith went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Deanna Wolf also contributed to Sachem’s cause, Wolf had three hits, including a double and a run scored.

As for Longwood, they were able to get the close victory thanks to hits at big spots and key defensive plays.

In the top of the seventh inning, Sachem, down 5-4, was threatening to tie the game as they had a runner on third base with two outs.  On a one-ball, two-strike count, the Longwood third basemen caught a sharp line drive to end the game and clinch the win for Longwood.

According to Longwood head coach Alicia Smith, the feeling among the team is that it feels it can win close games, something that wasn’t necessarily true in the past.

“That’s something that we’ve been working on as you try to change the culture of a program,” Smith said.  “As a coach, you don’t know if you’re gonna end up winning or losing, but you know that they thought they always could win.”

Leah Mele’s home run kicked off the scoring for the game and gave Longwood a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. She added a double to her hit total later in the game. Nicole Gazzola also had a big game for Longwood. She went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Longwood’s win moves them to 11-5 overall (11-4 in conference) and into first place in League I. The loss makes Sachem East’s record 11-5 overall as well, with a 10-5 conference record. 

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