RADFORD, Va. – Taking a perfect game into the seventh inning and finishing with a one-hit, complete-game shutout Elizabeth McCarthy lifted the Longwood softball team to a 1-0 victory in game one of its final regular season series over Radford Friday night at Radford Softball Park.

McCarthy was sensational in the circle, allowing just two baserunners while finishing the day with 10 strikeouts. The senior southpaw was able to find an early groove, striking out five of the first six Highlanders she faced and retiring 18 straight until Marissa Gagliano broke up the perfect game bid to lead-off the seventh inning. That hit from Gagliano was the lone ball throughout the night to leave the Longwood infield, as McCarthy finished the night with 82 pitches, 61 for strikes.

"Biz did a tremendous job all night," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "She's pitched well for the last two or three weeks for us, which is good to see. Her confidence level right now is the best I've ever seen it."

The start for McCarthy comes less than one week after tossing a two-hit shutout on her senior day in Longwood's 3-0 win over Charleston Southern to claim the series sweep. Friday's one-hit shutout marks the third time in her last eight starts that McCarthy has given up one hit or less in a start, including her third career no-hitter against Gardner-Webb.

"The fact that we were in such a tight game helped me keep my focus on the mound," McCarthy said. "Playing in games like tonight is one of the reasons you play the game, that's what makes it fun."

Surging Longwood (22-26, 11-8 Big South) has won six of its last seven games, as the Lancers are the hottest team in the Big South in that span. The Lancers need just one win in Saturday's doubleheader to lock up the No. 3 seed in the Big South Tournament, hosted by Longwood May 10-13. Radford suffers its second straight loss and finds itself fighting for the final spot in the conference tournament.

Krista Kelly started Longwood's rally in the seventh inning with a leadoff double, before moving to third on a Haleigh Kilby sacrifice bunt. Kelly scored on Jessica Smith's single into center field to provide McCarthy and the Lancers all the run support they needed.

For Smith, her hit extended her hitting streak to four straight games and marked the third time in the last four games that the sophomore has come up with a clutch RBI single after notching the go-ahead RBI in the series opener at Liberty.

"We were able to maintain our composure the entire time in a tight ball game tonight," Riley said. "Getting a leadoff double from Krista in the final inning and finding a way to put up a run are real positive signs heading down the stretch."

Abby Morrow (18-12) took the loss despite giving up one run on three hits and three walks. Morrow added two strikeouts in the loss, as she gave up just one hit prior to Longwood's pair in the seventh inning.

Longwood concludes its regular season slate with a Saturday doubleheader, beginning at 2 p.m. The first game of the doubleheader will be broadcast on ESPNU.

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