CHARLESTON, S.C. – A career-high three hits to go along with two runs scored from sophomore Krista Kelly fueled the Longwood softball team past Charleston Southern, 4-2, Friday afternoon at CSU Softball Stadium.

A product of Rockville, Md., Kelly posted the first three-hit performance of her career after posting her sixth career multi-hit contest. She was the lone Lancer to have multiple hits, as she notched three of Longwood's seven hits.

With her first career triple, Kelly was one of three different Longwood batters to record an extra base hit, as Emily Murphy and Justina Augustine each recorded a double.

"She's been pretty solid for us all year," said head coach Kathy Riley of Kelly. "We've kept her sixth in the lineup and she's done a good job with runners on base. She tends to be at her best when the pressure is on and she gave us a big lift today at the plate."

With her stellar performance, Kelly raised her batting average 32 points from .277 to .309 to finish the game while extending her hitting streak to three games and five of the past six contests.

"It just comes with a lot of hard work," Kelly said of raising her batting average. "We'll go out and hit before practice, we'll hit before games. It comes from having a real good work ethic and wanting to get better."

In the circle, Elizabeth McCarthy (8-5) got the win, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out a batter in 5.2 innings. Sydney Gay got the first save of her career, as she came on with one out in the sixth inning. She went 1.1 innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three of the six batters she faced.

"I don't think it was our best performance," Riley said of the pitchers. "I thought Biz got better as the game went along. Sydney came in and put herself in a pressure situation, but it was nice to see her settle down to get the out to end the game. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of those ladies get better as the weekend goes along."

McCarthy and Gay helped Longwood lower its team-ERA to 2.07 for the season which sits among the top-15 in the NCAA – seventh among mid-major schools – while leading the Big South.

Longwood (14-9, 4-0 BSC) was able to control the Charleston Southern (13-18, 1-3 BSC) running game that came into the weekend leading the Big South in stolen bases. Freshman catcher Kaylynn Batten became just the second player this season to throw out Charleston Southern speedster Amanda Matsumoto, who entered the contest with a conference-leading 22-of-23 stolen bases.

Hayley Elkins (6-13) took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, in a complete seven innings. She allowed a pair of walks while striking out four batters.
Lexie Vanada led the Buccaneers at the plate with three of Charleston Southern's four hits, including two home runs.

Longwood moves to 4-0 in Big South play, its second 4-0 start in the four seasons it has been a member of the conference.  

Longwood opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the second inning. Kelly blooped a one-out single to right field. Augustine was hit by pitch to follow, allowing Kelly to advance to second. The Maryland product scored after stealing third and advancing home on a throwing error from the Charleston Southern catcher Georgi Delio. Donovan then added to Longwood's lead, as she drove home Augustine with a single back up the middle.

Charleston Southern cut the Longwood lead in half in the home half of the inning, as Lexie Vanada hit her first home run of the day.

Kelly notched her first career triple over the head of McPherson in right field, before Augustine followed with a double on the second pitch she saw to bring home Kelly and give Longwood what was ultimately the game-winning run.

Vanada once again went deep for the second time in the game in the bottom of the inning. With her two home runs, Charleston Southern becomes the first team with a multi-home run game on McCarthy this season.

Longwood added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Glenn Walters extended her reached base streak to 25 straight games going back to last season with leadoff single through the right side. After Adams dropped a sac bunt to move Walters into scoring position, Murphy doubled down the left field line to score the sophomore.

In the sixth inning, the speedy Matsumoto led off with a bunt single, before taking off on the first pitch of the next at-bat. Batten threw a dart to Murphy at second to become just the second catcher to throw out Matsumoto this year.

Charleston Southern got its first two batters on base to begin the seventh and attempt to mount a rally. However, Gay settled down and struck out the final two batters to end the threat and the game.

Up next, Longwood and Charleston Southern are set to complete the three-game series Saturday, March 26 with a doubleheader. First pitch has been moved to 9 a.m. due to the threat of rain., with both games to be broadcast on the Big South Network.

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