Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CONWAY, S.C. – The Longwood University softball team dropped a pair of decisions at Big South Conference opponent Coastal Carolina University (32-13, 14-3) on Friday afternoon in Conway, S.C. The Lancers fell, 4-1, in game one of the twin bill before facing a 3-1 setback in game two. Sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach went 2-for-6 (.333) with one run scored, one RBI and one home run to pace the team's offensive effort, while four other Lancers added one hit apiece on the day. Junior Libby Morris/Dillwyn and freshman Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville each pitched one game with three strikeouts, allowing nine and six hits, respectively. Longwood (31-11, 14-5) and Coastal will wrap up the series with a single game tomorrow, Saturday, April 19 beginning at 1 p.m.
 
"We played a good team today and battled them all day, especially defensively," said head coach Kathy Riley. "The pitchers on both sides kept the hitters off balance with Coastal performing just a little better late in the game. Our kids are resilient, so we will bounce back tomorrow."
 
Neither side was able to get on the board in the first inning of game one, although Coastal threatened when the squad loaded the bases with a pair of hits and a walk before Morris forced a strikeout to extinguish the opportunity. The game remained scoreless through the second, as the only hit of that inning came in the leadoff spot for CCU, but Longwood was able to pull ahead in the top of the third. Junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth (1-5, 1 run, 1 walk) got things started with an infield single, bringing up Murphy, who reached on a sacrifice bunt. Both runners advanced on a throwing error before Lifsey was able to cross the plate on a wild pitch, giving the Lancers an early, 1-0 edge.
 
Both teams went three-up and three-down in the fourth and fifth innings, keeping the one-run margin intact. However, the Chanticleers rallied for four runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth to pull away. A fielding miscue and a base hit put runners on the corners for Brooke Donovan, who knotted the score at 1-1 with a RBI single to center. The squad added a two-RBI double and a RBI hit up the middle to take the 4-1 advantage. In the Lancers final chance at the dish, Murphy extended the inning when she legged out a single to second base with two outs, but the home team was able to record the final out and seal the 4-1 decision.
 
Game two started in much the same fashion as game one, as the squads battled in a defensive stalemate for the first three innings. After the Longwood side was retired in order in the first inning, Coastal's leadoff batter singled to right, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a groundout, but was left there when Lifsey tracked down a fly ball in deep left for the third out. The Lancers and the Chants each had one base runner apiece in the second and third innings, as sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia (1-4, 1 walk) was hit by a pitch in the second and Murphy walked in the third. Coastal Carolina broke the game open in the fourth on a solo home run by Kory Hayden to make the score 1-0 in favor of the home team.
 
The Lancers were quick to retaliate in the fifth, as Murphy drove her seventh homer of the season over the fence in center, tying the game at 1-1. Neither side was able to manufacture a run in the sixth, and although Lifsey and freshman Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg (0-5, 1 walk) walked in the seventh, both were stranded there. The difference maker came in the home half of the seventh, as Sara Rasley connected for a two-run homer, securing the 3-1, walk-off win for Coastal Carolina.