FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University softball team will host Big South Conference and in-state rival Liberty University in a doubleheader on Thursday, March 20 beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Lancer Field. The contests are part of a three-game, regular-season series between the two squads that will be completed with a single game on Thursday, March 27 in Farmville at 5 p.m. Both ends of the doubleheader will be aired live on the Big South Network. 

Looking at Longwood
Longwood has won seven of its last eight games to improve to 13-5 overall in 2014, including a 2-0 mark in Big South games. The squad went 4-0 last week after sweeping a doubleheader at home against in-state opponent George Mason University on March 11 and sealing back-to-back wins at Charleston Southern University on March 15. The Lancers rallied in the seventh inning of their first league game this year at CSU, erasing a five-run deficit to win 6-5. The team then took a 7-2 decision later in the day against the Bucs before the series finale scheduled for March 16 was called in the first inning due to rain. Through 18 games, junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford leads the Lancers with a .415 batting average, 22 hits and 13 walks. Sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach is hitting .400, adding a team-best 21 runs, four home runs and an .820 slugging percentage, while junior Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. has eight doubles and 12 RBI. Sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights has added to the offensive effort, as well, with a team-high 14 RBI and three home runs. In the circle, the Lancers are paced by freshman Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville, who has 42 strikeouts and one shutout.

Scouting Liberty
The Flames own a 2-21 overall record, and are currently 0-3 in Big South action. In the midst of a 16-game skid, Liberty dropped its most recent outing, 8-4 against Campbell on March 15. The squad, under the direction of first-year head coach Dot Richardson, is paced by senior Katie Zavodny with a .338 batting average, 25 hits and 14 runs. Junior Kelby Allen (.262) adds to the offense with a team-high 12 RBI and five walks. Junior Hannah Nichols (.333) and senior Sammi Shivock (.261) have recorded seven runs apiece this season. In the circle, the Flames will look to sophomore Annah Jo Brittingham, who has a 7.99 ERA in 75.1 innings pitched with 44 strikeouts so far.

Series History
Longwood currently leads the all-time series against Liberty, 29-25. Last season, the teams split four meetings with two wins apiece. The Flames earned an 8-7 victory in Farmville on April 8 before Longwood closed the regular-season series with 14-6 and 9-2 wins in Lynchburg on April 15. The squads met one final time in the first round of the 2013 Big South Conference Championship in Rock Hill, S.C. on May 9 when Liberty took the 5-3 decision.

NCAA Rankings
Through games as of March 16, Longwood is nationally ranked in the top 50 for five statistical categories. The Lancers are 26th in double plays per game (0.44), 27th in doubles per game (1.56), 40th in win/loss percentage (.722), 42nd in triples per game (0.28) and 50th in earned run average (2.43). Individually, Chelsea Sciacca is ranked third in the nation with 0.50 doubles per game and Emily Murphy is 17th with 1.17 runs per game.

Big South Stats
Longwood currently leads the Big South with a .289 team batting average and a .386 on-base percentage. Emily Murphy paces the league with an .820 slugging percentage, while Megan Baltzell sits second in the league in on-base percentage (.537) and walks (13).

Dominating Defense
The Lancers' three-person pitching staff has helped the team get off to a strong start in 2014. Freshman Jenna Carnes/Six Mile, S.C. has a 1.33 ERA and a perfect 3-0 record in six appearances so far this season to lead the team. Classmate Elizabeth McCarthy, who paces the squad with 42 strikeouts, recorded her first career shutout in a 5-0 win against George Mason on March 11 and is now 5-2 on the year with a 2.10 ERA in a team-high 50.0 innings pitched. Junior Libby Morris/Dillwyn (3.28 ERA) owns a 5-3 record with a pair of saves, as well. Together the trio has held opponents to just a .229 batting average.

Home Sweet Home
Heading into 2014, head coach Kathy Riley pinpointed performing better at home as one of the team's early goals for the season. After finishing just 10-7 in Farmville last year in 2013, the Lancers have already made a strong showing on their home turf this season with an 8-2 mark at Lancer Field so far.