FARMVILLE, Va. – Presbyterian southpaw Alex Cook threw a two-hit shutout, while shortstop Hope Rogers drove in three runs to lead the Blue Hose past the Longwood softball team 4-0 in the rubber-game Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field.
 
After retiring 15-of-16 batters in five innings during Friday's doubleheader, Cook (5-10) received the start in the circle and continued her dominant form, allowing just two base runners throughout Saturday's start.  Cook gave up just two hits and struck out three, as she threw 71 pitches, 47 for strikes.
 
It marks Longwood's first series loss to the Blue Hose at Lancer Field and just the second in the series history, as the Blue Hose took the 2014 matchup in Clinton, S.C. In addition, it marks the first season since Longwood (16-23, 5-7 Big South) joined the Big South that the Lancers have dropped three conference series. Meanwhile, Presbyterian (16-28, 5-10 Big South) wins its second conference series.
 
"We're fighting to figure out how to play better softball, we just haven't done it yet," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "There is responsibility on all sides from players and coaches to make adjustments and to try to get better. Our biggest challenge is to try to become a better team, because right now we just aren't good enough."
 
After a one-hit, complete-game shutout in Longwood's 2-0 win over Presbyterian in the series opener, Elizabeth McCarthy (6-7) drew her second start of the weekend, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits and a walk. McCarthy, ranked atop Longwood's all-time strikeout list and eighth in the Big South, struck out seven batters in five complete innings.
 
Sydney Mundell pitched the final two innings for the Lancers, giving up just one hit while striking out one.
 
Hope Rogers was one of two Presbyterian players to notch multi-hit games, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Atop the Blue Hose lineup, Jonnie Petree went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
 
The Lancer offense was paced by hits from Haleigh Kilby and Karleigh Donovan.
 
Presbyterian took the lead in the third inning after Presley Bissett doubled down the right field line, before Jenna Harris reached on an error and Rogers singled to center field three batters later to bring in Bissett and Harris.
 
The Blue Hose scored a run in both the fourth and fifth innings, as Kelsie Sanchez scored on an RBI single from Rebekka Gross in the fourth, before Rogers notched an RBI single to right field an inning later to increase the Presbyterian lead to 4-0.
 
Longwood will step out-of-conference for the final time this season Wednesday, April 19, as East Carolina comes to Lancer Field. The doubleheader against the Pirates is set for a 5 p.m., first pitch.
 
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