Photo Gallery (Facebook) | Longwood Radio Network Highlights | Tournament Bracket

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Behind a perfect hitting performance from senior shortstop Emily Murphy, including a pair of homers and a double, top-seeded Longwood rallied from an early five-run deficit to pick up a 13-5 run-rule victory over Winthrop Wednesday afternoon at Terry Field in the first round of the Big South Softball Championship.

After allowing five runs in the second inning, two earned, the Lancers (34-17) scored 13 straight runs for its largest comeback victory of the season to move into the quarterfinals. Longwood captured a win to open the tournament for the second straight season.

"I'm excited for our girls," said 2015 and 2016 Big South Coach of the Year Kathy Riley. "This tournament is always a battle and today was certainly no different. We fell behind early, but I was happy that we were able to score some runs and hit all the way through the lineup."

Murphy, who went 3-for-3 on the day with a pair of home runs, also hit an RBI double in the sixth inning to help fuel a Longwood rally of 13 unanswered runs. Murphy was one of two Lancers with a multiple hits, as Kelsey Sweeney was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Glenn Walters also had a three-run home run in the sixth inning to allow the Lancers to complete the walk-off.

"Emily has really been good for us over the past few weeks now," Riley said. "I think she came into this tournament prepared and that certainly showed today."

With her two home runs, Murphy joins former teammates Megan Baltzell and Brooke Short as the third player in program history to hit 50-plus home runs. Murphy, who hit three bombs in the 2013 semifinal against Campbell in Rock Hill, enjoyed her first multi-home run game of the season.

"Today felt good," Murphy said. "I was seeing the ball really well, but I just got up to the plate with confidence and let the rest come."

Murphy's pair of blasts gives the senior four in her last three games, as she had a two-game home run streak coming into the tournament. The four-time All-Big South recipient now has home runs in eight of her last 12 games. The Virginia Beach, Va., product has found a second home at Winthrop's Terry Field throughout her career, as she has nine career home runs in 13 career games and three multi-home run games at the complex.

Freshman Sydney Gay (15-6), who came on in relief for Elizabeth McCarthy, gave the Lancers a spark in the circle with eight strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work to pick up the win. The freshman pitching sensation retired 14 of 17 batters faced, surrendering just one hit and allowing two more to reach base on walks.

"She did really what she's been doing all year and was terrific," Riley said. "I'm a lucky coach to have a freshman come in that's as good as Sydney Gay."

Back-to-back Big South Pitcher of the Year McCarthy got the start for the Lancers and gave up five runs, two earned in 1.1 innings.

"I don't know that Biz necessarily struggled today, but she was never able to get into a rhythm," Riley said.

Kiley Majette (7-19) took the loss coming in for Winthrop starter Keleigh Romine and tossing 2.2 innings. Majette gave up nine runs on eight hits and walked a pair of batters.

Winthrop jumped on the board with a five-run second inning, sending all nine batters to the plate. The Eagles had three of their four hits in the inning. Morgan Lowers had the big hit of the inning with a two-RBI double into left center field.

After the Lancers got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a Sweeney RBI groundout to bring home Karleigh Donovan, Murphy changed the momentum of the game with one swing of the bat with her two-run blast.

Meanwhile, Gay was dealing after relieving McCarthy in the second inning. The rookie sensation came on and immediately sent down the first eight batters she faced. With her eight strikeouts in the game, Gay sits two strikeouts shy of matching McCarthy's 150 punchouts in her freshman campaign.

The Lancers took their first lead of the game one inning later, following a Carly Adams single back up the middle to bring home Sweeney. Murphy capped the five-run inning with her 50th career blast to straight away center.

Murphy's big day continued in the sixth inning with an RBI double down the left field line to bring home Jamie Barbour. After a 30 minute lightning delay, the Lancers quickly tacked on three runs with a Glenn Walters three-run blast to complete the run-rule.

Longwood now advances to the quarterfinals of the Big South Championship where it will face fifth-seeded Campbell Thursday. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Terry Field.

#GoWood