Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University softball team split a pair of decisions against Big South Conference opponent Winthrop University (16-14, 4-3) on Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field in Farmville. The Lancers faced a 14-3 setback in five innings against the Eagles in game one before battling back to take a 3-0 victory in game two. Junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth  went 2-for-2 at the plate in game two with one run scored to lead the squad's offense in the victory, while junior Libby Morris/Dillwyn improved her personal-best for strikeouts for the second consecutive game, fanning 10 Eagles in the complete-game performance. Junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. hit .500 (3-6) through the pair of games, while freshman Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville struck out three in three and one third innings of work in game one. Longwood (16-6, 5-1) and Winthrop will square off once again tomorrow, Sunday, March 23, in the series finale, which has been moved up to 11 a.m. due to expected rain.

"The first game was a humbling experience for us," said head coach Kathy Riley. "The key for us is understanding we still need to grow as a team. I didn't feel like we got down on ourselves, so it is really just a matter of us playing good softball and getting in a rhythm that we don't have yet. For us to be a championship-caliber team, it's going to take a lot more effort on our part to play consistent softball.

"Coming back in the second game and winning 3-0 was really big for us. Between games we discussed how to handle adversity and how to adjust when it comes. I do think we went out there and handled ourselves pretty well. Bonding together in that game and playing all the way through seven innings was important."

The Eagles took a 3-0 lead in their first trip to the plate in game one thanks to three hits, a Lancer miscue and a wild pitch. Longwood went three-up and three-down in the bottom of the first before Winthrop plated three more runs in the second to pull ahead, 6-0. Shinrock recorded the Lancers' first hit in the outing on a high chopper to third with one out in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-4, 1 run) followed with an infield single of her own, but the squad was unable to capitalize.

In the top of the third, WU loaded the bases with three singles before Megan Winningham scored everyone with a grand slam over the left field fence, giving her team a 10-0 edge. Senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson (1-2) put a ball in play during her first at-bat in the home half of the third and reached on an error, but she was stranded at third. Winthrop added four more in the fourth with the help of another three-run homer, making the score 14-0. Longwood made noise in the bottom of the fifth when Putnam and sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (2-6, 1 run, 1 RBI) each logged a single to get aboard, and junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford (2-5, 1 run, 3 RBI) followed with a three-run shot high over the fence in center field, although Winthrop would secure the final outs to take the 14-3, mercy-rule decision.

In game two, the Eagles threatened with two base runners in the top of the first, but Morris forced a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to get out of the situation unscathed. The squads registered one hit apiece in the second inning, as Shinrock connected for the Lancers, but neither side was able to advance the runner. Winthrop used a pair of hits to put two runners in scoring position with two outs in the third, however, Morris won a long at-bat with a fly-out to end the opportunity. Lifsey was the Lancers' lone runner in the home half of the inning, turning on the first pitch she saw and sending it back up the middle. After the Eagles left two more runners stranded in the top of the fourth, Baltzell led off for Longwood with a line drive through the right side, although she was caught in a double play to end the inning.

Winthrop had the go-ahead run just 60 feet away once again in the fifth, but Adams cleanly fielded a pair of groundouts at third. The Lancers broke the game open in the bottom of the inning, as Barbour was hit by a pitch and took two bases on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg (0-2) before scoring on a throwing error on the same play. Lifsey and Murphy put together back-to-back base hits before Lifsey scored on a pass ball and Murphy came home on a single by Adams, giving Longwood a 3-0 advantage. In their next chance at the dish, sophomore Rebecca Huitt/Bealeton (1-1, 1 walk), freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton (0-4, 1 walk) and Lifsey drew walks in an effort to extend the Lancers' lead, but all three were left on following the pitching change. Morris had the lead she needed, however, adding two more strikeouts in the seventh to the seal 3-0 win.