Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. – Freshman Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg logged what would be the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the No. 2 seeded Longwood University softball team to a 2-1 victory against No. 5 Winthrop University in an elimination game on Friday evening at the 2014 Big South Conference Championship in Conway, S.C. Hedrick was called in to pinch hit with the bases loaded before putting the ball in play to plate the go-ahead and deciding run. Junior pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn turned in a complete-game performance in the circle to lead the Lancers' stingy defense, retiring the Winthrop side in order in five of the seven innings, while allowing just three hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia went 2-for-3 at the plate to add to the Lancers' offensive effort. With the decision, Winthrop closes the 2014 season with a 27-26 overall record, while Longwood (40-15) secures its second consecutive 40-win  and advances to take No. 7 Charleston Southern University in a semifinal contest on Saturday, May 10 beginning at 12 p.m. on ESPN3. If the Lancers defeat the Lady Bucs, an if necessary game will be played at 5 p.m. on Saturday to decide which team will move on to the "winner take all" championship game on Sunday, May 11.
 
"It was a great softball game this evening," said head coach Kathy Riley. "It was a pitcher's duel, both teams put runners on base and had opportunities to break the game open, and the defense came through with some great plays. The second baseman from Winthrop saved them a run in the last inning with a good play. There were some really great plays by Longwood, as well. Carly (Adams) and Emily (Murphy) played well at third and short, and Jamie (Barbour) came up with two or three crucial plays at first base, but then you can go back to the circle and can talk about how well Libby (Morris) pitched. She took it to them tonight and went after it. We're proud of the team and happy for all the Longwood Softball fans."
 
Morris and the Longwood defense were quick to retire the Winthrop side in the first with three infield outs. In the Lancers first trip to the dish, junior Chelsea Sciacca/Whittier, Calif. (1-2) was hit by a pitch with two outs and sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (1-3) kept the inning alive with a single up the middle, but both would be stranded there. After the Eagles went three-up and three-down once again in the top of the second, sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (0-1, 2 runs) reached on an error by the WU second baseman and freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton (0-3) slid under a tag at first. Barbour followed with a single to right field to load the bases and Adams scored on a wild pitch, giving the Lancers an early 1-0 edge. However, Winthrop answered in the third with a two-out RBI double down the left field line to knot the score.
 
Longwood left one runner on base in each of its next two at-bats, as Murphy reached on a dropped third strike in the third and Adams was hit by a pitch in the fourth. The pitchers' duel continued in the fifth when Sciacca accounted for the lone hit for either side, and although WU threatened in the sixth, putting runners on first and third with just one out, Morris pitched out of the jam with a pair of popups to keep the stalemate intact.
 
The difference maker came in the sixth, as Hedrick stepped in to pinch hit with the bases loaded and sent a hard hit ball towards second base. A diving Eagle just barely missed the catch, allowing Hedrick to be safe at first and Adams, who had walked, to score the go-ahead run. Morris then quickly sat down the Winthrop side once again in the top of the seventh to seal the 2-1 victory.