Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Longwood University softball team earned a pair of decisions at Charleston Southern University (13-16-1, 2-3) on Saturday afternoon in the squad's first Big South Conference games of the year at Buccaneer Field. The Lancers rallied with five runs in the seventh inning to earn a 6-5, come-from-behind victory in game one before taking a 7-2 decision in game two. Sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach paced Longwood (13-5, 2-0) at the plate with a .429 average, including three home runs and four RBI. Sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia and junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. both went 2-for-5 on the day, while freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton added to the offensive effort with two hits, two runs and three RBI. Junior pitcher Libby Morris/Dilwyn pitched 5.1 innings of relief in the first game of the day, allowing five hits and two runs in the win. Freshman pitcher Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville, who hurled six scoreless innings, struck out seven, while allowing just seven hits en route to a win of her own. Longwood and Charleston Southern will close the series with a single game tomorrow, Sunday, March 16 beginning at 1 p.m.

"I'm really happy to start off our first conference weekend with two wins," said head coach Kathy Riley. "I think part of it was just getting momentum from the first game because we didn't get off to a great start, but to be able to come back and get five runs late in the game and get ourselves started was a big deal. It was nice to be able to see us do that. In some ways, we were really fortunate in the first game, but people did get on base and we had a couple big hits. Our ability to come back goes to show how hard these kids work and support each other, so we're really proud of the fact that they always keep themselves in the game."

The Lady Bucs broke the first game open in their first at-bat, using a leadoff home run, a RBI gapper and a rundown to take an early 3-0 advantage. In Longwood's next chance at the plate, Shinrock and freshman Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg (1-5, 1 run) stood at the corners following a pair of fielder's choice plays, but the team was unable to capitalize. With Morris relieving freshman Jenna Carnes/Six Mile, S.C in the circle for Longwood, neither side was able to plate a run in the next two innings, although sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (1-7, 1 RBI) reached on an error and Shinrock walked for Longwood in the fourth. In the bottom of the fifth, Jessica Brock hit her second homer of the contest to put CSU on top, 5-0.

The Lancers responded in the top of the sixth when Murphy led off with a long ball over the fence in left center to put her squad on the board and break up the no-hitter. Longwood carried the momentum into the seventh, as Barbour recorded an infield single and Hedrick doubled down the right field line before Augustine cut the difference to just one run at 5-4 with her first career home run. The squad kept the rally alive with a walk from junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford (1-7, 2 runs, 1 RBI) and another homer from Murphy that snuck inside the foul pole to give Longwood a their first lead of the day at 6-5. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bucs put runners on first and second, but the visitors held on to secure the come-from-behind win.

Longwood went to work in the top of the first in game two, as Murphy reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single up the middle by Sciacca. With two outs in the inning, a double to the wall in right by Shinrock and a walk by Barbour set up a bases loaded situation for the Lancers, but the squad was unable to extend its lead further. McCarthy retired the CSU side in order in their first trip to the dish before Baltzell sent a RBI single skidding through the middle of the field, and Sciacca and Adams knocked in one run apiece to give Longwood a 4-0 advantage.

After both sides left one runner on base in the third, Murphy started the fourth with an inside-the-park home run, making the score 5-0 in favor of the visitors. In the bottom of the fifth, Charleston Southern registered a one-out base hit, but Longwood turned a double play to end the inning. The Lancers extended their margin by two in the top of the seventh, loading the bases before sophomore Rebecca Huitt/Bealton (0-1, 1 RBI) flew out to right field, scoring Shinrock, and senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson (2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI) grounded out to score Barbour. CSU ended the possibility of a shutout with a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, but Longwood sealed the 7-2 decision.