AUBURN, Ala. – A three-run fifth inning lifted No. 2 Auburn past Longwood, 6-5, as the Tigers held on in the seventh with the game-tying run in scoring position to capture the sweep in the three-game series.

Throughout the three games, Longwood (21-15) outhit a second-ranked Auburn (37-4) team that came into the weekend ranked among the top-15 in batting average and inside the top-five in the nation in team-ERA by a 14-13 margin. Longwood dropped all three of the games by three runs or less, including two of the games by just a single run.

"Good competition breeds us getting better as a group," said head coach Kathy Riley. "We didn't get a win and we wanted a win. I feel like we played consistent, quality softball all weekend. That consistency is what we want because good teams are able to consistently play well. We can certainly build upon this weekend to get ready for Virginia Tech this week"

After Longwood tied the game on an Emily Murphy sacrifice fly, 3-3, in the top of the fifth inning, Auburn scored three runs on two hits, a walk and an error to take control of the contest and take a 6-3 lead into the late innings of the game.

However, a resilient Longwood team responded in the sixth and seventh innings. Karleigh Donovan brought the deficit to two runs in the sixth inning with her fourth home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch. Meanwhile, Carly Adams hit a two-out opposite field home run in the seventh inning to bring the Lancers back to within a run.

Emily Murphy reached on a fielding error by shortstop Casey McCrackin and swiped second base, representing the tying run in scoring position. Freshman Kaylynn Batten struck out looking to end the threat and the game.

"I was most pleased with how we handled ourselves at the plate," Riley said. "We did a good job of staying within ourselves and swinging at good pitches. Today, we didn't seem to have the same kind of energy as we had in the two games prior."

Adams enjoyed the game's only multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI. She was one of two Lancers in the series to record a multi-hit game, joining Kelsey Sweeney who had a two-hit game in Friday's opening game of the series.

"I feel really confident with all three of our seniors right now," Riley said. "All three of those kids have started almost their entire careers at Longwood. Moving Jamie [Barbour] to leadoff and having Carly [Adams] and Emily [Murphy] behind her really provide good stability atop the lineup. Carly's been very focused on having a great senior year and doing the things necessary for our team to win."

Sydney Mundell (0-1) took the loss after coming on in relief for Sydney Gay in the fifth inning. She allowed three runs on two hits and a walk in 0.2 innings. Gay started the game and tossed 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out three batters. She also walked a career-high seven batters.

Elizabeth McCarthy also came on to pitch with two outs in the sixth inning. The junior southpaw gave up just one hit in 1.1 innings of work.

The Longwood pitching staff ended the weekend by allowing Auburn to hit just .197 in the three games after the Tigers came into the three-game series batting .392 as a team.

Auburn all-time wins leader Lexie Davis (5-0) earned the win, coming on in relief in the third inning for starter Marcy Harper. Davis tossed 3.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Rachael Walters came on in the seventh to pick up the save, her second of the season.

For the second straight day, Longwood opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Adams had her first RBI of the day with a single back up the middle to bring in Jordan Clark from second after the freshman came on to pinch run for Sweeney.

Adams later came home to score with an RBI infield single from Glenn Walters to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead.

Auburn tied the game in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of five walks in the inning from Gay.

The Tigers took the lead one inning later, as Emily Carosone recorded her third RBI of the weekend with an RBI single to right field to score Tiffany Howard.

However, the Lancers responded in the next half inning. Justina Augustine led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch, before Jamie Barbour laid down a bunt single. Augustine advanced to second after Adams hit into a fielder's choice before coming home to score on a sacrifice fly from Murphy to left field.

Auburn responded with their three-run fifth, as Jade Rhodes led off with a walk before the Tigers strung together a pair of singles from Madi Gipson and Courtney Shea. Jenna Albott recorded a sacrifice fly to left field before a Kendall Veach RBI groundout to third base put a three-spot on the board for the Tigers.

However, a resilient Longwood team rallied once again. Donovan's home run in the sixth inning combined with Adams' shot to left center in the seventh made it a one-run game. Murphy reached on an error and stole second, before a strikeout from Batten ended the threat and the game.

Longwood returns to Lancer Field for a midweek doubleheader against ACC-foe Virginia Tech Wednesday, April 13. It will mark Longwood's final regular season contest against a team from a Power-Five conference, as Longwood has already faced four SEC schools along with three ACC schools this season. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

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