Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. singled in the top of the eighth before eventually scoring what would be the winning run on a wild pitch to lead the Longwood University softball team to a hard-fought, 1-0 victory at the University of South Carolina (33-18) in extra innings on Saturday afternoon. Freshman pitcher Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville earned the win in the circle for the Lancers, allowing just two hits while striking out six en route to her fourth shutout of the year. Longwood (35-14) will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against in-state and Big South Conference rival Radford University on Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4. Junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford paced the team at the plate, batting .500 (2-4), while classmate Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth and sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights added one hit apiece, as well.
 
"This year's team offers some exciting times for the Longwood faithful," said head coach Kathy Riley. "We have played some very close games and much of that is due to our team's strengths of pitching and defense. We showed tremendous character coming back today with a 1-0 win against South Carolina."
 
The squads combined for four runners left on base through the first two innings, including Shinrock, who drew a leadoff walk in the first and Adams, who started off the second by legging out a bunt single. In the top of the third, sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia reached on a fielding error by the Gamecocks' second baseman, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice later in the inning. South Carolina then put a runner in scoring position in the home half of the third following a pair of Lancer miscues, however, McCarthy extinguished the opportunity with a strikeout and two fly-ball outs.
 
Adams got aboard with one-out in Longwood's next chance at the plate thanks to another South Carolina error, while the home squad would also put their second batter on with a walk, although neither squad was able to capitalize, keeping the scoreless stalemate intact. The Lancers went three-up and three-down in the top of the fifth before the Gamecocks threatened to break the game open in the bottom of the inning. USC's Ansley Ard lined a base hit to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. An intentional walk and fielder's choice put South Carolina runners on the corners, but Adams cleanly fielded a grounder and threw on to first to secure the final out of the inning.
 
Longwood recorded one hit in each of the sixth and seventh innings with an infield single from Baltzell and a hit through the left side by Lifsey, but the team was unable to push either runner across the plate and get on the board, forcing extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Shinrock laid down a good bunt for a base hit and advanced to third on a single up the middle from Baltzell. Sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach drew a walk to load the bases before Shinrock came home on a wild pitch to give the Lancers a 1-0 advantage. South Carolina had one final chance to retaliate in the home half of the inning, but McCarthy retired the side in order to earn the hard-fought win for Longwood.