Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FARMVILLE, Va. – Freshman Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville and junior Libby Morris/Dillwyn combined for 16 strikeouts with just three hits and one run scored to lead the Longwood University softball team to a pair of wins against Big South Conference and in-state rival Radford University (22-27, 14-9) on Saturday evening at Lancer Field in Farmville. The Lancers held on to take a 2-1 victory in game one before rallying for four runs in the fifth inning of game two to earn a 4-0 decision. McCarthy tied a personal best with 10 strikeouts, while allowing just one hit and one run in her complete-game effort. Morris, who got the start in the nightcap, fanned six hitters and gave up just two hits in her fourth shutout of the season. Junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford paced the team at the plate, hitting .750 (3-4) with two runs, two RBI, two walks and one home run. With the wins, Longwood has secured the No. 2 seed for the 2014 Big South Conference Championship to be played on May 8-11. Longwood (37-14, 16-6) and Radford will wrap up the regular season with a single game tomorrow, Sunday, May 4, beginning at 1 p.m.
 
"We played two very solid games today," said head coach Kathy Riley. "We took on a hot-hitting Radford team, and both Libby and Biz went out on the mound and did a great job of shutting them down. I thought the defense backed them up, as well. We handled everything that was thrown at us pretty well and kept our composure throughout the two games. We didn't get too high and we didn't get too low, we stayed within ourselves and I think that's the reason why we came out on top today."
 
McCarthy started strong in the circle in game one for the Lancers, retiring the RU side in order in the top of the first after leaving a pair of hitters looking on strikeouts to end the inning. Longwood was quick to take a 1-0 edge in the home half of the first, as Baltzell laced a one-out solo home run off the top of the scoreboard beyond the wall in right field. The Highlanders remained without a base runner through the second inning before junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth (1-5, 1 walk) drove a high fly ball off the fence in left center for a stand-up double, although she would be stranded at third to keep the one-run difference intact. The first RU batter to reach base came with two outs in the third following a dropped third strike, but McCarthy fanned the next Highlander she faced to get out of the situation unscathed. In the bottom of the third, junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley (2-7, 2 runs, 1 RBI) got things started with a single through the left side before Baltzell drew a walk and junior Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. (2-6) sent a liner off the tip of the third baseman's glove and into shallow left. The loaded bases brought up sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (2-4, 2 RBI), who fought off four, 3-2 pitches before earning the RBI walk to put the Lancers ahead, 2-0.
 
Radford's leadoff batter was hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth, but she was quickly doubled up on a groundout to shortstop by the next hitter. Sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia (2-3, 1 run) was responsible for Longwood's lone hit in the fourth, legging out a slow roller to second with two outs. In the fifth, the Highlanders went three-up and three-down before Baltzell got aboard with a walk, but was left there. Becky Mantel broke up the no-hitter and shutout with a two-out homer to left field in the top of the sixth, cutting the lead in half at 2-1. Radford would not come any closer, though, as McCarthy and the Lancers played solid defense in the seventh to secure the 2-1 victory.
 
Neither side was able to plate a run in the first inning of game two, as the lone runner for either side was RU's Mantel, who was hit by a pitch. The Highlanders threatened in the second, using a hit and a pair of walks to load the bases, but Morris forced a groundout to get out of the jam and keep the scoreless stalemate alive. Murphy poked a looping liner to left center to start off the home half of the inning, but she was caught stealing before the squad could gain any momentum. Both the Lancers and the Highlanders left one runner on base in the third, as RU picked up a walk and Barbour blooped a single to the edge of the grass behind third. In the top of the fourth, Mackenzie Blackwell got aboard with a base hit before advancing all the way to third, but Morris pitched out of the situation once again with a grounder and a strikeout.
 
The Lancers came close to breaking the game open in the bottom of the fourth, when Baltzell drove the first pitch she saw down the right field line and Murphy sent a high chopper into left field. Both runners advanced on a ground-ball out before Lifsey ripped a line drive that was snagged by the RU third baseman to cut down a pair of runs.
 
After the Radford side was retired in order in the fifth thanks to a long-range, running grab by Murphy, the Lancers rallied for four runs on four hits in their next trip to the plate. Senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson (1-3, 1 run) singled up the middle and Barbour followed with a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error on the play allowed Putnam to score and Barbour to advance all the way to third. Shinrock added a RBI single, bringing up Baltzell and Sciacca, who sent back-to-back RBI doubles deep to the outfield to put the Lancers on top, 4-0. Neither side was able to manufacture a run in the sixth, although Lifsey and sophomore Rebecca Huitt/Bealeton (1 walk) walked for Longwood. Morris then sat down three-straight Highlanders in the seventh to seal to 4-0 decision.