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FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood softball is headed to the Big South Championship once again.

Keyed by a four-run sixth inning that included a go-ahead two-run double by cleanup hitter Karleigh Donovan, the third-seeded Lancers (27-26) upset top-seeded and reigning Big South regular season champion Liberty 7-4 in the conference semifinals to punch their ticket to a third straight Big South Championship game, which takes place Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at Lancer Field.

Playing in front of a raucous home crowd, the host Lancers banged out three hits in the top of the sixth to overcome a 4-3 deficit and take over the driver's seat in the six-team, double-elimination conference tournament. The victory puts the Lancers within one win of clinching their third straight Big South Championship and fourth in their five years as a member of the conference.
 
"Liberty has a great team, so any time we can come out on top you have to feel good about it," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley.

Kaylynn Batten delivered a pair of clutch hits for Longwood, first hitting a go-ahead RBI double in the first inning and then tying the game with an RBI single in the top of the sixth. She finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs, upping her tournament average to .500 (5-for-10) with four RBI in her three games.
 
Meanwhile, Donovan continues her hot-hitting ways a day after having the go-ahead RBI single as part of a three RBI day against second-seeded Campbell. Through three games in the tournament the Dinwiddie, Va., product has hit .444 (4-for-9) with five RBI and three runs scored.

Liberty (36-21) got a 4-for-4, two-homer game from Big South Freshman of the Year Amber Bishop but could not keep up with a Longwood lineup that bashed eight hits, drew five walks and put three runners on base after being hit by pitch. Longwood knocked Big South Pitcher of the Year Julia DiMartino after the game before the end of the third inning and then plated five runs against Liberty reliever Kenzie Friesen (11-3).
 
The win for the Lancers extends Longwood's winning streak to a season-best seven games, going back to the second game of the regular season series at Liberty. In addition, Longwood captures its seventh straight win in the Big South Championship, going back to the 2016 postseason.

Sydney Gay (14-13) picked up the win for Longwood after firing 2.2 shutout innings in relief of Longwood ace Elizabeth McCarthy.
 
"Sydney looked much more comfortable today," Riley said. "You could see the competitive spirit and the fight coming out of her. She's slowly rounding into shape with the injury in terms of getting back her rhythm. I feel good about where she's at right now."
 
Heading into the sixth inning trailing, 4-3, Longwood's offense strung together four runs on three hits, including back-to-back hits from Batten and Donovan's go-ahead two-run double that brought home Batten and Justina Augustine. From there, Krista Kelly laid down a bunt single that brought home Jordan Clark.

Longwood will face the winner of Liberty and No. 5 Winthrop in Saturday's 7 p.m. Big South Championship game at Lancer Field.

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