GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Longwood pitching staff combined for 22 strikeouts, as the Lancers posted a pair of victories in a doubleheader sweep over East Carolina Tuesday evening at ECU Softball Stadium.

Fueled by a career-high 12 strikeouts from Elizabeth McCarthy in game one, Longwood posted an 8-2 victory in game one in extra innings, before winning the nightcap 6-2.

"It was nice to get back on track with a couple of good wins on the road," said head coach Kathy Riley.

McCarthy appeared in both games, but was phenomenal in the opening game. She notched double figure strikeouts for the sixth time in her career, finishing the day with 8.2 innings pitched and allowing two runs on eight hits while finishing with 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work.

"I thought Biz was real solid all night," Riley said. "I never felt like she was in trouble and she was able to spot her pitches very well."

Senior Carly Adams led the Lancers at the plate with a 4-for-8 day, along with a double, two RBI and three runs scored. She was one of five Lancers with at least three hits, as Kaylynn Batten, Kelsey Sweeney, Glenn Walters and Emily Murphy also had three-hit days.

"Carly Adams was a catalyst for us on offense tonight," Riley said. "She was aggressive on first pitches. She didn't always hit that first pitch, but she was aggressive and was looking to make something happen."

Longwood begins a six-game homestand Friday, April 1, welcoming Winthrop to Lancer Field for a three-game series. Following that series, first-place Liberty will come to Lancer Field for a midweek three-game series.

Longwood 8, East Carolina 2
McCarthy posted a career-high 12 strikeouts, as Longwood tied the game in the sixth inning before scoring seven runs in the eighth inning to take game one of the doubleheader, 8-2, over East Carolina.

McCarthy (9-6) pitched a complete game and allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks. Of her 12 strikeouts, 11 came with the batter swinging. She lowered her Big South-best ERA to 2.22 with the performance.

Kelsey Sweeney led the Lancers at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance. She led an offensive effort that saw each Longwood player that came up to the plate record a hit.  

The win for Longwood marks their first victory of the season when it trailed after the fourth inning, as the Lancers were 0-6 when trailing after the fourth inning coming into the game.

Lydia Ritchie (11-7) took the loss for the Pirates, coughing up eight runs, four earned, on 10 hits and one walk. In addition, she also posted an eight strikeout performance. She took a one-hitter into the sixth inning before giving up the lead and allowing nine Longwood hits in the final three innings.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, as Kelsi Briggs hit a solo shot down the left field line for her third home run of the season.

That lead stood until the sixth inning. Karleigh Donovan led off the inning with a single through the left side, before Jordan Clark came on as a pinch runner. Adams later singled back up the middle and threatened to go to second, forcing ECU into a defensive miscue and allowing Clark to score on the play.

McCarthy was able to work her way out of a jam in the seventh inning, as ECU had runners on second and third with one out in the inning. However, McCarthy induced a popup and a groundout to get out of the jam and force extra innings.

After a Kelsey Sweeney single, Jamie Barbour and Glenn Walters each reached base with hits setting the stage for Murphy. The senior delivered the go-ahead single down the left field line that plated Walters and Barbour. Kaylynn Batten followed with a single to plate Adams and add to the Longwood lead.

Longwood went on to score four more runs in the inning, before McCarthy completed the effort with a strikeout to end the game.

Longwood 6, East Carolina 2
Freshman Sydney Gay struck out eight in 5.1 innings to propel Longwood to a 6-2 victory in game two of the day to help Longwood complete the doubleheader sweep.

Gay, who threw a season-high 136 pitches and 86 for strikes, improved to 6-4 on the season with the performance. The rookie allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and six walks. McCarthy came on in the sixth inning and worked 0.2 innings, getting both of the batters she faced out.

Sydney Mundell came on to pitch the seventh inning, striking out one of the four batters she faced.

Adams led the Lancers offensively with a 3-for-4 performance, marking her third game this season with three hits. She finished with two runs scored and an RBI, as she was one of four Lancers with a multi-hit game. In addition, Glenn Walters finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, including a home run, while Murphy and Batten also posted two a pair of hits.

The Longwood offense put together 12 hits, as seven batters recorded hits for the blue and white.

Mary Williams (3-7) took the loss, as she gave up four runs on nine hits and a pair of walks while striking out two batters. Ritchie came on to pitch 3.0 innings, giving up a pair of solo home runs.

Longwood got the first run of the game in the third inning, as Sweeney singled to short to bring home Adams

The Lancers padded their lead in the fourth inning with three runs. The 2-4 hitters in the Longwood order came through with all three RBI with two out in the inning. Adams followed a Walters single with a double to right field to bring home Walters. Murphy than followed with an RBI triple to the gap in right center, before Batten brought her home with a single.

After ECU cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth, Donovan and Walters each homered in the fifth inning to pad to the Longwood lead.

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