Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach went a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate, as the Longwood University softball team picked up a pair of wins on Day One of its annual Longwood Spring Classic Tournament. The Lancers defeated Towson University (5-5), 9-1, in six innings in their first game of the afternoon before earning a 7-2 victory against Lafayette College (1-1) in the nightcap. Murphy added a team-best five RBI on the day with 12 total bases, three stolen bases and a 1.000 on-base percentage. Classmates Carly Adams/Colonial Heights and Jaime Barbour/Amelia added to the offensive effort, hitting .571 (4-7) and .500 (3-6), respectively. Junior pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn led the Lancers in the circle, turning in a complete-game performance against Towson with two strikeouts, five hits and no earned runs. Longwood will play two more games in the tournament tomorrow, Sunday, February 23, at 1 p.m. against Lafayette and at 3 p.m. against Towson.

"I was really happy with the results today," said head coach Kathy Riley. "After not getting to play last weekend and taking on Towson, who already had eight games under their belt, we felt good about getting 10 hits and giving ourselves some opportunities. I did see areas that we can improve, but having young players puts us in a position where we have to be patient as that first third of the season goes along. We are really looking forward to coming out tomorrow and trying to do some things a little better than we did today."

In game one, Towson got on the board in the top of the first with a RBI single that skidded through the left side. Murphy opened the bottom of inning with a liner to left before Adams knocked her in with a base hit to right, knotting the score at 1-1. The Tigers threatened to regain the lead in the top of the second, but left a pair of runners stranded, as Morris knocked down a hard hit ball that was then fielded by Adams, who fired to first to end the inning. In the home half of the inning, Barbour found the grass in right center, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson (0-3, 2 runs) and crossed the plate on RBI hit to left center by Murphy to give the Lancers a 2-1 advantage.

Longwood retired the Towson side in the third before extending its lead to 3-1, as junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (1-6, 1 RBI) hammered a triple to the fence in right, scoring Adams. The Lancers' defense was on display in the top of the fourth beginning with Murphy, who showed great range by going deep into the hole before firing to first for the out. Freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton (0-5, 1 run, 1 RBI) tracked down a fly ball in center on the next play and junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford (1-6, 3 runs, 1 RBI) caught a runner stealing to end the inning. The team's momentum carried over to its next trip to the plate when Murphy and Baltzell connected on back-to-back, two-out solo homers to make the score 5-1 through four innings. After the Tigers left two runners on base in the top of the fifth, Barbour put a two-out single on the ground through the right side to score Augustine and Adams, who had reached on a walk and base hit, respectively, giving Longwood a 7-1 edge. An inning later in a bases-loaded situation, Augustine was hit by a pitch to bring in one run and Adams followed with a RBI infield single to seal the 9-1, walk-off win for the Lancers.

Longwood, playing as the visitors against Lafayette in their second game of the afternoon, stranded a runner on third in the top of the first after Murphy was hit by a pitch. Making her collegiate debut in the circle, freshman Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville held the Leopards scoreless in the home half of the inning, with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout. The Lancers plated three unearned runs in the second inning, as freshman Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg (1-6, 1 run, 2 RBI) came home on a miscue by the Lafayette second baseman before Murphy doubled to left to knock in Putnam and Barbour.

The Leopards were quick to answer in the bottom of the inning, though. The team logged two consecutive hits and a walk to load the bases, but Barbour made a heads-up play, getting the force out at home. However, Lafayette followed with a two-run single to center to make it a one-run game at 3-2. Both sides were retired in order in the third before the Lancers pulled away with four runs in the fourth. Barbour legged out an infield single to the pitcher and scored on Murphy's RBI double to left. Later in the inning, the squad loaded the bases and Hedrick plated a pair of teammates with an infield single. The teams battled defensively in the final innings, combining for five runners left on base and no runs scored, as Longwood held onto the 7-2 margin of victory.

McCarthy totaled five strikeouts, while allowing just four hits in five innings of work. Freshman pitcher Jenna Carnes/Six Mile, S.C. also made her debut in the win, hurling the last two innings and allowing just one hit in seven batters faced.