TROY, Ala. – A two-run blast from Karleigh Donovan in the eighth inning, along with another strong pitching performance from Sydney Gay propelled the Longwood softball team to a 3-2 win over Samford Sunday afternoon to conclude play in the Trojan Classic.

With the Lancers and Bulldogs playing the international tiebreaker rule in extra innings and Kaylynn Batten standing on third base, Donovan lifted the first pitch she saw from Samford pitcher Grey Adams to give Longwood its first lead of the day.

That blast supported yet another strong performance from Gay (2-3) in the circle, as she earns a win in her second straight start. The Carrollton, Va., product gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits in eight complete innings. In addition, Gay struck out five batters to finish the weekend with 18 strikeouts and at least five in each of her three starts.

In her final two starts of the weekend against Jacksonville and Samford, Gay returned to her dominant form and gave up just one earned run in those two contests in 15.0 innings of work. The sophomore gave up just one hit through five innings in Sunday's game against a Bulldog team that erupted for 13 in Friday's game between the two teams.

Longwood and Gay held off a Samford rally in the bottom of the eighth, as the Bulldogs brought the deficit to one with no out in the frame. However, Gay was able to induce a trio of popups to get out of the jam and give the Lancers their second win of the weekend.

"We earned an important victory today," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "We came from behind with a great effort play from Krista Kelly, strong pitching from Sydney Gay and a big home run by Karleigh Donovan."

Held scoreless for the first five innings of the game, Longwood tied the game in the sixth inning, as Kelsey Sweeney notched a one out single and came home from second base three batters later when Kelly beat out a throw from Samford catcher Abbey Sweeney.

The win for Longwood (2-7), brings head coach Kathy Riley to within one victory shy of her 700th career win in a career that has spanned 23 seasons at Mount Olive and Longwood.

"Besides the win itself, the way we handled the pressure in extra innings was impressive and will help us down the road," Riley said.

Sweeney enjoyed her second multi-hit game of the weekend, as the junior finished 2-of-3 at the dish and scored the game-tying run. She was one of four Lancers to record hits in the game, including Donovan, Justina Augustine and Jessica Smith.

Adams (1-3) suffered the loss for Samford, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits and three walks. Adams also struck out two Longwood batters.

The top of the Samford (2-8) order had four of Samford's six hits in the game with Shelby Maze going 2-for-3 and Friday's hero Abbey Sweeney notching a pair of RBI.   

Longwood returns to action Saturday, Feb. 25 at the UNCG Invitational against UNCG and George Washington. The Lancers open the tournament against the Patriots Saturday at 11 a.m., before taking on the host Spartans at 3 p.m.

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