CHARLESTON, S.C. – Five different Lancers had at least two hits as Longwood clinched a series win with a 6-2 victory at Charleston Southern Sunday afternoon at CSU Ballpark.
 
The duo of Brandon Harvell and Connar Bastaich each had three hits while the trio of Alex Lewis, Carlos Garrido, and Hayes Nelson each had two hits in the win for Longwood (17-11, 5-3 Big South). The Lancers won the series against Charleston Southern (11-16, 1-4 Big South) with the victory and have won four games in a row.
 
"We're doing a great job at the plate right now," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said after his Lancers picked up 12 hits, one shy of the team high for hits in a single game. "We got a starter out of the game early, which is our goal. We put up a big inning, which is another one of our goals. I really like the string of quality at-bats we're putting together."
 
Longwood scored four runs in the second inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead, scoring the runs on four hits and one walk. The four-run second inning rally made it five straight games the Lancers have scored at least four runs in a single inning. Longwood was 5-for-12 as a team with runners in scoring position Sunday and on the season the Lancers are hitting .294 (79-for-269) with runners on second or third base.
 
The big inning for Longwood made Steven Farkas (2-1) a winner. The freshman lefty pitched 5.2 strong innings with two runs allowed on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Daniel Johnson (3-3) took the loss for Charleston Southern after allowing five runs in 3.0 innings.
 
"[Farkas] did a good job again today," Mau said. "I thought his fastball command was outstanding today. He still has a few things to work on so we can get him ready for next weekend's series at High Point."
 
Farkas was replaced in the sixth inning with a runner on base by Cody Wager. It was the first appearance for Wager since the junior right-handed pitcher picked up the win on a quality start at VMI on March 2.
 
"I was really excited to see Wager back on the mound for us," Mau said. "I thought he did an outstanding job in his return to the mound."
 
After Wager spun 2.1 scoreless innings, freshman right-hander Cody Boydstun pitched the bottom of ninth inning, retiring the side on 12 pitches.
 
"Boydstun also did a really good job and I was impressed by his poise on the mound," Mau said. "[Charleston Southern] didn't even threaten with him on the mound. I thought he was in total control."
 
The bottom of the order provided the majority of the production for Longwood's offense Sunday. Out of the seven, eight, and nine spots, Harvell, Garrido, and Nelson combined to go 7-for-11 at the plate with four RBI. Harvell was perfect on the day, finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI, two runs scored, and one walk. Garrido was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI coming on a double in the second inning that put Longwood up 3-0 at the time. Nelson had his first mutli-hit game of the season with a pair of singles and an RBI in a 2-for-4 day.
 
"We have a tough lineup," Mau said. "We're getting contributions from all over. It's great to see the bottom of that lineup contribute like they did today."
 
It was another strong day for the middle of the order. Bastaich and Lewis each had multi-hit games in the win. Bastaich went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Lewis was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a pair of runs scored. Bastaich and Lewis are a combined 10-for-16 at the plate in the series. Lewis has picked up a hit in 11 consecutive games and leads the Lancers with 11 multi-hit games while Bastaich sits second on the team, picking up two or more hits in nine games.
 
The Lancers made several highlight plays defensively and finished the game with outfield assists from Sammy Miller in center and Drew Kitson in right field.
 
"It was another solid game defensively," Mau said. "I really like the way we're making plays and I hope we continue to do that."
 
Longwood didn't commit any errors in the game, the second consecutive error-free game. Longwood is 6-1 in games played without an error by its defense.
 
The win for Longwood clinched the second winning series in Big South play for the Lancers and first winning road series of the season.
 
"It's always good to win a conference series on the road, but the job is not done," Mau said. "We're looking to earn a sweep tomorrow."
 
Longwood wraps up the series at Charleston Southern Monday afternoon since the series was pushed back from its original start day of Friday due to weather in the Charleston area. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at CSU Ballpark.
 
#GoWood