Tournament Bracket

ROCK HILL, S.C. – A six-run first inning and solid pitching performance from Longwood junior Elizabeth McCarthy propelled the top-seeded Lancers to the Big South Championship game with a 10-2 run-rule victory over No. 2 Coastal Carolina in the Big South Semifinals.

With the win, Longwood advances to their third Big South Championship game in four seasons since joining the Big South. Longwood will play the winner of the other semifinal bout between Campbell and Radford at 3 p.m., Saturday afternoon. 

McCarthy, the back-to-back Big South Pitcher of the Year, went the distance in the circle for the Lancers to pick up the win after she allowed just two runs on six hits and recorded four strikeouts. Along with Longwood's huge first inning at the plate, Glen Walters added a two-RBI double to finish with a team-high three RBI to help the Lancers earn their second straight run-rule win versus the Chanticleers.

Longwood, who recorded 11 hits on the day, improved to 15-0 on the season when recording double figure hits. Krista Kelly, Carly Adams and Justina Augustine led the offensive onslaught with two hits each. Glenn Walters' also joined that group of Lancers with a hit, going 1-for-2 on the day, her only hit coming on the two-RBI double.

Coastal Carolina loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, but the Lancers were able to get out of the inning unscathed courtesy of a 5-2-3 double play to end the inning.

That momentum carried over to the bottom of the inning, as the Lancers sent 11 batters to the plate and posted six runs on seven hits. Led by a pair of hits from Krista Kelly and Carly Adams, five different players recorded a hit in the inning and nine batters reached base.

Kelsey Dominik started the game for Coastal Carolina and she was unable to get out of the first inning. The Coastal senior lasted 0.1 innings and was charged with five runs, all earned, on three hits and a walk to take the loss.

The Chanticleers brought in Mackenzie Conrad to relieve Dominik and she tossed an inning, giving up three runs on six hits.

Ashley Guillette came on to replace Conrad and tossed 2.2 relief innings for the Chanticleers, allowing two runs on two hits while walking four and recording four strikeouts.

After McCarthy retired Coastal in order in the top of the second, the Lancers tacked on two more runs courtesy of a Glenn Walters double off the wall in left field.

Longwood added two more runs in the third inning courtesy of the first career home run from Jessica Smith before Karleigh Donovan worked a bases loaded walk to bring home Justina Augustine.
 
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