FARMVILLE, Va. – Playing on her senior day, senior southpaw and two-time Big South Pitcher of the Year Elizabeth McCarthy tossed a two-hit shutout, as the Longwood softball team completed a three-game sweep of Charleston Southern with a 3-0 win Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field.

After earning a win and a save in Friday's doubleheader, McCarthy (8-8) was spectacular once again in her lone start of the weekend in the circle, allowing just six baserunners. McCarthy struck out six batters throughout, all of which came swinging, en route to throwing 109 pitches, 69 for strikes.

"Today was as good as Biz has pitched all season," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "Her focus was really on the high end and she didn't lose that focus throughout. Once I saw how well she was pitching, I felt confident in staying with her for the entirety of the game."

For the weekend, McCarthy was part of a Longwood pitching staff that gave up just two runs to a Charleston Southern team that came into the series ranked among the top-five in the NCAA with 57 home runs.

"I really couldn't ask for anything better than a two-hit shutout on senior day," McCarthy said. "Even in my warm-up, I felt comfortable. The first inning really set the tone for the rest of the day."

Offensively, Longwood was led by two-hits from both Jordan Clark and freshman Kasey Carr, while Karleigh Donovan clubbed her second home run of the season in the sixth inning.

"It means the world to me to be in this class with Justina [Augustine] and Jenna [Carnes]," McCarthy said. "It was four summers ago that we met each other at a tournament and the last four years have flown by. Both of them have taught me a great deal on and off the field and I'm forever grateful that I got to be in this class with them."

Longwood honored its senior class of McCarthy, Justina Augustine and Jenna Carnes before the start of Saturday's game. Together, those three seniors helped Longwood amass 134 wins on the softball field, while playing a pivotal role in two Big South Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Augustine, Carnes and McCarthy were part of a group that collected three NCAA Tournament victories in their four seasons and helped the Lancers advance to the squad's first-ever NCAA Regional Championship Game last season.

"Each class means a lot, you share so many ups and downs with them in a four-year period," Riley said. "You really form deep relationships with each one of them while they're here. Senior day is always a bit of a melancholy day because you want to see them go out on their own, but you miss them as well."

Holly Clark (7-11) took the loss for Charleston Southern, giving up one run on two hits in three innings. Arizona Pilgrim came on for Clark in the fourth inning and gave up two runs on three hits in three innings, while striking out three.

With the series sweep over Charleston Southern (23-33, 7-11 Big South), Longwood (19-25, 8-7 Big South) moves into third-place in the conference standings heading into its final two series of the regular season.

Longwood took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, taking advantage of a Charleston Southern error on a ball hit hard by Jessica Smith. Donovan came home to score on the play after reaching on a fielder's choice two batters earlier.

Following the second of Clark's two hits of the day with two out in the sixth inning, Karleigh Donovan stepped to the plate and crushed the second pitch she saw to right field.

"That home run was big because it helped us relax a little bit more to where we didn't have as much pressure in holding a 1-0 lead," Riley said.

With the three-game sweep, Longwood looks to build on the momentum, as the squad heads to Liberty for a three-game midweek series. That series is set to begin with a Tuesday doubleheader at Liberty Softball stadium, beginning at 5 p.m.

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