STARKVILLE, Miss. – Junior Elizabeth McCarthy pitched a two-hitter in the squad's 2-1 victory over Northwestern State, as the Longwood softball team opened the Bulldog Slamboree by splitting its two games against Central Arkansas and Northwestern State Friday at Nusz Park.

The Lancers had their five-game winning streak coming into the tournament snapped in the morning game, 4-0, against Central Arkansas. Meanwhile, McCarthy allowed just two hits against Southland Conference favorite Northwestern State, as Longwood came from behind for the 2-1 victory.

Against the Demons, McCarthy went the full seven innings, as she gave up just one run on two hits while walking five batters and recording four strikeouts.

McCarthy continues her dominant start to the season in the circle, as she picks up her third straight win and lowers her ERA to 1.07 for the season. After being named Big South Pitcher of the Week Monday, McCarthy with her performance Friday has not given up more than two earned runs this season while picking up her third straight win in the circle. In addition, since Longwood's season opener against Ohio, McCarthy hasn't yielded more than three hits in a game.

Meanwhile, Sydney Gay gave Longwood a chance to win in the opening game of the day against Central Arkansas, allowing just three Bear hits through five innings of work while matching a season-high seven strikeouts.

"Longwood got two very good pitching performances today against two good ball clubs," said head coach Kathy Riley. "We did a nice job of rebounding after game one and I'm happy for the girls that they came away with a win in the second game."

Kaylynn Batten and Glenn Walters each posted a pair of strong days at the plate, as both players notched a pair of hits. Walters drove in Taylor Hedrick in the game against

Northwestern State for the go-ahead run with two out in the top of the seventh inning back up the middle. She extends her hitting streak to six straight games, as she has reached base successfully in each of Longwood's 11 games this season.

Longwood (8-3) looks to build on its win over Northwestern State, as the Lancers return to the diamond Saturday for a morning contest against UT-Chattanooga before taking on host Mississippi State. The game against UT-Chattanooga is set for a 9 a.m. ET first pitch before taking on the Bulldogs at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network +/Watch ESPN.

Central Arkansas 4, Longwood 0
Central Arkansas scored the game's only runs in the bottom of the sixth, as the Bears picked up a 4-0 victory over Longwood in the first game of the day Tuesday.

In a pitchers dual with neither Longwood freshman Sydney Gay (3-1) or Central Arkansas starter Shivaun Landeros (8-3) not surrendering a run through six innings. In particular, Gay was dominant through five innings, as she gave up just three hits while matching her season-high of seven strikeouts.

In her third start of the season, Gay finished with a line of 6.0 innings and gave up four runs on four hits while walking five batters and recording seven strikeouts.
Landeros matched Gay pitch-for-pitch, as she tossed 7.0 innings and gave up no runs on six hits.

The loss ends Longwood's five game win streak and spoils a streak of the Lancers winning seven of its last eight.

Longwood stranded a runner on third in the third and fourth inning. In the third, the Lancers had runners on the corners following a Carly Adams single that allowed Walters to advance to third following a two-out single. However, both players were stranded on base after Emily Murphy lined out to center field.

However, Central Arkansas sent eight batters to the plate in the decisive sixth inning, scoring four runs on three hits. The Bears loaded the bases with one out in the inning after Hannah Stirton led off with a walk in a eight pitch at-bat, before Aubrey Pratt and Bailey Reynolds reached with one out in the inning.

Kate Myers drove home the game-winning run with a one out single to left field to score Stirton. Brianna McArthur, who came on as a pinch hitter, added to the Bear lead with a two-RBI double to right field. She was later driven home by Sam Forest.

Longwood 2, Northwestern State 1
McCarthy gave up one run on two hits in game two of the day, as Glenn Walters drove in the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning to propel Longwood past Northwestern State, 2-1.

McCarthy (4-2) pitched a complete game for the fourth time this season, as she gave up one run on a pair of hits and five walks while striking out four batters faced.
Micaela Bouvier (6-2) took the loss for the Demons, tossing seven innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on just two hits and four walks.

Northwestern State took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the second inning, as Kaytie Proctor notched a two-out single to right field to score Brittney Jones. That single would mark the lone hit of the game for the Demons until the bottom half of the seventh inning.

Longwood tied the game in the fourth inning, as Justina Augustine recorded a two-out infield single to second. Adams later reached on a throwing error on the Northwestern State second baseman to bring home Batten, who walked earlier in the inning.

The Lancers took their first lead of the game three innings later. Taylor Hedrick was hit by a pitch with one out in the inning, before advancing to second on a Jamie Barbour sacrifice bunt. Walters then stepped into the box and laced a 2-2 pitch into center field to bring around Hedrick and give the Lancers a 2-1 lead.

Northwestern State threatened in the bottom half of the inning, as two batters reached with two out in the inning. However, McCarthy was able to get Michaela Johnson to fly out to right field to end the threat and seal the win.

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