FARMVILLE, VA. – Timely hitting from Colton Konvicka and several other Lancers sparked a game one victory as Longwood split a doubleheader by winning game one, 5-2, and dropping game two, 7-2, against No. 22 Coastal Carolina Friday at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
"I thought we did a really good job in game one and I was pleased with our effort in all aspects of the game," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said after Longwood split with the Chanticleers Friday.
 
Konvicka hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth inning of game one to give Longwood (11-8, 1-1 Big South) a lead it would not relinquish in the Big South opener against the nationally-ranked Chanticleers (12-8, 1-1 Big South). The win for Longwood is its first win against a ranked opponent since going on the road knocking off a Coastal Carolina team that was ranked No. 23 in 2015. The win is the third win the program has against a ranked opponent, the first coming against No. 25 Campbell in 2013.
 
"It was a team effort and I thought we played well in all facets of the game," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said after the win in game one. "Coastal Carolina is a good ball club and I knew we had to be on our A-game today."
 
The speedy senior outfielder, Konvicka, was one of three Lancers to pick up hits in both games. He had 3-for-7 day at the plate and scored two runs, picked up two RBI, drew one walk and stole a base, the fourth swipe of the season for Konvicka.
 
Joining Konvicka with hits in each game of the twin bill against Coastal Carolina were Drew Kitson and Carlos Garrido.
 
Garrido, a freshman catcher, had two separate RBI singles in game one and finished Friday 3-for-8 with two RBI. The first of Garrido's RBI singles was the knockout blow against Chanticleer starter Tyler Poole (3-2), who was removed after Garrido's run-producing knock capped off a three-run fourth inning for Longwood. Poole took the loss for Coastal Carolina.
 
"The freshman stepped up offensively with a couple of big hits to break us open for a big inning," Mau said.
 
The junior outfielder, Kitson, amassed two hits in a 2-for-8 day across the two games and picked up a clutch double that set up Konvicka's go-ahead hit in game one.
 
Team captain Travis Burnette (3-1) took advantage of the run support in game one with 5.2 innings of three-run ball and spread out seven hits while striking out a season-high eight batters as he got the win. The senior right-hander fell one shy of his career high in punchouts in the win.
 
"I like the tone that we set with Travis Burnette on the mound, he was outstanding," Mau said. "Michael Catlin came in and did his job on the mound and Ryan Jones grabbing the hardest out to get, which is the last out in baseball, was a great job by him."
 
After Catlin pitched 3.0 scoreless innings, Jones picked up the save, his first, in his season debut by closing out the game for the Lancers. Jones needed only two pitches to induce the game-clinching out.
 
Game two went to the Chanticleers to even the day.
 
The second game started with a bang when Coastal Carolina third baseman Zach Remillard hit his conference-leading eighth home run of the season, a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. The home run was one of five extra-base hits for the Chanticleers in the nightcap of the double-dip. Coastal Carolina had 10 hits for extra bases between the two games.
 
In the loss freshman left-hander Steven Farkas (0-1) pitched well, but shouldered the loss after just missing a quality start. Farkas allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits across 5.2 innings of work with a career-high five strikeouts.
 
"I thought [Farkas] did a great job competing and he gave us a chance to stay in the game," Mau said. "He's really doing an excellent job in that role as a freshman."
 
Cameron Trichka pitched the next 3.0 innings and struck out five of the 15 batters he faced, the most strikeouts the junior college transfer has picked up in one outing with the Lancers.
 
"I thought [Trichka] really threw the ball well tonight," Mau said. "He commanded the fastball and had both breaking balls going. He has swing-and-miss stuff. It was good to see him have a lot of success tonight."
 
On the other side for Coastal Carolina Cole Schaefer (1-0) picked up his first win of the season by holding Longwood to two runs, one earned, in 5.0 innings of work.
 
With the split of the day, Longwood moved to a record of 10-2 at home.
 
"We're more comfortable here, we practice here and train here, and we talk about defending our house," Mau said. "It's us against the game. We have our offensive and defensive goals. It doesn't matter who's on the other side of the field, it doesn't matter the score; we play the game hard and I like our chances.
"I'm a little disappointed we weren't able to win the series, but we'll look to accomplish that tomorrow," Mau said.
 
Longwood continues its second two-day, three-game series in as many weekends on Saturday after the threat of inclement weather for Sunday forced the Lancers to move Friday to a doubleheader and push up the start time from the scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch Saturday to 10 a.m.
 
In Saturday's game Longwood will wear gold laces in support of the fight against pediatric cancer. During the weekend the Longwood baseball, softball, and men's tennis teams will wear the special laces as a symbol of the fight against pediatric cancer.
 
The Lancers and Chanticleers conclude the first series in Big South play with a rubber match Saturday. Luke Simpson (0-0) is expected to get the start for Longwood opposite of Cole Schaefer (0-0) for Coastal Carolina. The Lancers and Chanticleers are set for a 10 a.m. first pitch at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
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