COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore Sydney Gay gave up two runs in 13.0 total innings throughout the day Saturday, as the Longwood softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader against Charlotte and (RV) South Carolina at the Carolina Classic played at Carolina Softball Stadium.
 
In a pair of pitcher's duels, Charlotte's Haley Wiseman outdueled Gay in game one of the day to lift the 49ers to a 2-1 win, before Longwood went pitch-for-pitch with South Carolina before falling on a walk-off error on a double steal, 1-0, in nine innings to the host Gamecocks.
 
After a freshman season that saw her post the Big South's only sub-2.00 ERA, Gay allowed just two runs in 13.0 innings. She also struck out seven batters throughout the two games.
 
Four different Lancers – Kaylynn Batten, Krista Kelly, Destiny Martinez and Kelsey Sweeney – recorded hits throughout the day Saturday, including the first career hit and run scored for Destiny Martinez.    
 
Up next, Longwood (0-3) will square off against Ohio to conclude play at the Carolina Classic Sunday, Feb. 12. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
 
Charlotte 2, Longwood 1
Charlotte pitcher Haley Wiseman limited Longwood to one hit and one run in seven complete innings to lift the 49ers past the Lancers, 2-1, in the first game of the day.
 
Wiseman (1-1) allowed five Longwood baserunners in seven innings, scattering seven strikeouts and three walks throughout her complete-game performance. Her seven strikeout performance comes on the heels of the 12 she posted in Charlotte's (1-1) loss to Presbyterian in Friday's season-opener.
 
Sydney Gay (0-1) took the loss in her 2017 debut, giving up two runs on seven hits and three walks while adding six strikeouts in six innings of work. Gay, the 2016 Big South Tournament MVP, held the 49ers scoreless after the second inning.
 
Wiseman was aided by a pair of 2-for-3 performance from Emma Ocker and Spenser Gray, who combined for four of Charlotte's seven hits.
 
"We played better in terms of giving more effort, but because we're not hitting, we're under tremendous pressure to play a perfect game defensively," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "We'll continue to strive to get better each day which is something we believe in no matter how we play."
 
Ocker opened the scoring for the 49ers in the first inning, scoring off a wild pitch after reaching on a single to open the game and advancing to third.
 
Charlotte doubled its lead with the ultimate winning run an inning later after Meredith Harris doubled to leadoff the frame, before coming around to score two batters later on a single from Gray.
 
Krista Kelly, who spoiled Wiseman's no-hit bid, answered in the top of the third with a double to score Destiny Martinez, who led off the inning with a walk.
 
Longwood threatened with the game-tying run in the seventh inning after Kaylynn Batten drew an eight-pitch leadoff walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kelsey Sweeney, but was ultimately stranded there to end the game.
 
(RV) South Carolina 1, Longwood 0 (9)
South Carolina's Tiara Duffy ended a nine-inning thriller, scoring on a throwing error after stealing third on a double steal to support a three-hit shutout from senior Nickie Blue in a 1-0 win over Longwood.
 
After doubling to leadoff the ninth inning, Duffy stole third and scored on a throwing error to lift South Carolina (3-0) to its third consecutive shutout of the season.
 
"I'm proud of how the kids played against South Carolina," Riley said. "We were better at the plate and solid defensively. I personally got caught flat-footed on the double steal and hurt us in the ninth inning. We plan on continuing to work our hardest and develop into a very good team."  
 
Blue (1-0) led the Gamecock effort in the circle, tossing the three-hit, complete-game shutout and allowing just five baserunners throughout. She allowed two walks and recorded five strikeouts in her 2017 debut.
 
Drawing her second straight start of the day, Gay matched Blue pitch-for-pitch, throwing seven scoreless innings and allowing five hits and two walks. The Carrollton, Va., product allowed just three baserunners throughout the final five innings she threw.
 
Elizabeth McCarthy (0-2) relieved Gay to start the eighth inning and took the loss, giving up the unearned run to Duffy. McCarthy worked one-plus inning, giving up a hit and recording a strikeout.
 
Longwood was led offensively by Kaylynn Batten, who recorded a hit and walk in the game. She was one of three Lancers to record a hit, as she was joined by Kelsey Sweeney and Destiny Martinez.
 
The Lancers threatened with a runner on third base in the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to push across the go-ahead run.
 
Receiving votes in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, South Carolina is the first of three teams on Longwood's schedule this season to be ranked or receiving votes among the top 25.
 
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