FARMVILLE, Va. – An impressive six-inning, eight strikeout performance from junior pitcher Elizabeth McCarthy and the first career home run for Kaylynn Batten lifted Longwood to a 10-2 run-rule victory over Hartford Friday evening in the home opener on opening day of the Longwood Spring Fling.

"Coming into this game, we just wanted to really get in there and work on improving," said head coach Kathy Riley. "Coming out of South Carolina, we thought we got better with each game. It was an opportunity for each player to get better and keep maturing."

McCarthy (2-2) took a perfect game 3.1 innings, before it was broken up by a single to left center field from Jenice Aloyo on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. A product of Dunnsville, Va., McCarthy recorded a season-high eight punchouts, just two off her career-high 10 which has been set on four different occasions.

"Biz has pitched well this year so far," Riley said. "She missed one pitch tonight and it cost us two runs. We talk with her about understanding what the hitter is doing and manipulating to that spot where she feels like she can get her out."

The junior southpaw and 2015 Big South Pitcher of the Year, McCarthy finished the night giving up two runs on three hits and issuing no walks in the game. In her fifth straight start to open the season, McCarthy and the Longwood defense hasn't yielded more than two runs in a game.

"I was happy with my performance," McCarthy said. "It was nice to have the run support, as it's definitely always good to have on the mound. I would've liked to not have given up the two runs, I think it was avoidable. Overall, I was pleased."

At the plate, Kaylynn Batten led the Lancers with a 3-for-4 performance, which included her first career home run. She finished the night with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, as she extends her hitting streak to five games. Batten has opened her Longwood career by going 8-for-12 (.667) at the plate with a pair of doubles and Friday's home run.

The Batten-led the Longwood offense recorded 10 hits on the night and plated at least seven runs for the third time this seaso. Eight different players recorded a hit in the game, with four hits going for extra bases.

"She's been a super pleasant surprise for us obviously," Riley said of Batten's performance. "Each year, you're looking for people to step up whether it's people who played part-time in prior years or a freshman. For Bug to step up at the plate and step into her role as catcher as well, she's been able to handle it well.

"I think her catching has improved as well. I thought she did a nice job of getting Biz some extra pitches, there were several pitches that were close."

Krista Kelly continued her strong start to the season, as she went 1-for-3 at the plate and added to her team-leading six RBI while also scoring a pair of runs. Emily Murphy and Jamie Barbour each extended their hitting streaks to four straight games, while Glenn Walters has now reached base safely in five straight games from the leadoff spot.

Hartford's Bianca Ross (0-2) took the loss, as she gave up eight runs, seven earned, in four innings of work. She was tagged for 10 hits in the game, while allowing four walks. In addition, she struck out four batters.

Lexi Wilkerson came on in relief, going 1.1 innings, giving two runs while walking a pair of batters and striking out one.

With the win in its home opener, Longwood has captured a victory in five of the last six seasons in its first contest at Lancer Field. That one loss came last season to Coastal Carolina, before the Lancers ended the campaign with a 10-2 home record.

"It was a little chilly, but it's always nice to play at home," McCarthy said. "We had a really good crowd, so the environment was fun and we have a good team with good chemistry, so it's always a good time on the field."

McCarthy came out firing by striking out the side in the opening inning. She got Kylie Dazalla, Aloyo and Fried Sawyer to all strike out swinging, while tossing 16 pitches with 10 for strikes.

"You always come out looking to get into a rhythm early and set the tone," McCarthy said. "I thought there was no better way to start"

Longwood rewarded their pitcher in the home half of the inning with three runs off a pair of hits. After Walters led off the inning with a walk and stole second, Kelly brought her home with an RBI single before advancing on the throw. Three batters later, Batten singled up the middle to score Kelly from second, before Kelsey Sweeney recorded her first RBI of the season on a groundout to plate Justina Augustine.

"One of the things I really liked tonight was that we made a lot of good base running decisions on our own," Riley said.

McCarthy returned to the circle getting two more three-up, three-down innings in a row and added to one to her strikeout total.

Batten added to the Longwood lead in the bottom of the third, with a shot to left center field. It marked Longwood's second home run this season, as Murphy added a blast in the squad's 9-1 win over UNCG.

Hartford's best threat of the night came in the fifth inning trailing, 6-0, as Kristen DeCiantis was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. Ross then went yard to left field on the second pitch of the next at-bat. Alex Saharek followed with a single up the middle, before McCarthy and Longwood escaped with no further damage.

"That home run came on a pitch we called inside and Biz actually thought it should've been further inside. She didn't take it upon herself to move it a little more and if she had, I think we would've gotten that hitter out."

Batten secured her third RBI of the night in the bottom of the inning, by knocking in Augustine with a single and advancing on an error. Taylor Hedrick followed one batter later to record her first hit of the 2016 season, as she knocked a ball down the right field line for an RBI double to bring home Batten.

From there, McCarthy struck out two in the top of the sixth, before Wilkerson allowed a pair of walks and hit a pair of batters, as Hedrick was hit by a pitch to bring in Kelly and send Longwood to its first run-rule victory of the season.

The Lancers return to action in the Longwood Spring Fling Saturday, as the squad takes on Monmouth at 1 p.m., before a rematch with Hartford is set to follow. Prior to Longwood's first game, Hartford and Monmouth will take the field at 11 a.m.  

 #GoWood