FARMVILLE, Va. – It was a perfect start to the 2018 home slate, as the Longwood softball team opened its Big South schedule with a pair of wins against Radford Saturday afternoon at Lancer Field.

Longwood utilized a two-hit day and the second-career home run from Kasey Carr in game one en route to a 4-1 win, before Karleigh Donovan came through in a clutch situation to lift the Lancers to a 3-2 walk-off win in the nightcap over the Highlanders (14-10, 0-2 Big South).

The pair of wins hands Longwood (14-8, 2-0 Big South) its third 2-0 start in Big South play since joining the league prior to the 2013 season while extending the squad's winning streak to five consecutive games.

"We were happy to be at home in front of a nice crowd after 20 straight games to start the season on the road," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "I thought we were energetic throughout both games and I was happy to come out with two wins today."

Carr led the way for the Lancers offensively, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a pair of RBI to extend her hitting streak to eight straight games. That hitting streak matches Jessica Smith's eight-game hitting streak earlier this season, as Longwood's longest of the campaign.

"The last 10 or 12 days, you can see a tremendous amount of improvement from Kasey," Riley said. "She's quite a bit more aggressive when she goes up to the plate than she's been in the past. You can really see that confidence start to come through a little bit."

Donovan also added three hits in the two games, finishing the day with three RBI while clubbing her second home run of the season.

In addition, Kaylynn Batten, Jessica Smith, Krista Kelly and Destiny Martinez each added a pair of hits throughout the course of the two games.  

In the circle, Sydney Gay (9-5) picked up a pair of wins, as she's won each of her last five appearances. Gay, along with Sydney Backstrom yielded just one earned run throughout the two games, allowing just three extra base hits.

In Gay's performances, she added eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings while Backstrom picked up a save and threw 6.2 innings of four-hit softball.

"I didn't think either pitcher really had their best stuff today, but they both did a good job fighting through it," Riley said. "I thought both girls responded to the challenges they were put in with coming in with runners on base and getting the job done."

Longwood looks to complete the three-game sweep over the Highlanders Sunday, March 18 at Lancer Field with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

Longwood 4, Radford 1

Kasey Carr belted a fourth-inning two-run home run and Karleigh Donovan added her second blast of the season to back five innings of one-run softball from junior right-hander Sydney Gay in a 4-1 victory over Radford.

The win marked the fourth time in Longwood's six seasons in the Big South with a win in its home opener.

The home run from Carr – the second of her career – was part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate for the sophomore, marking her third multi-hit game of the season. Carr was the only Lancer to finish the game with multiple hits, as Donovan, Krista Kelly and Destiny Martinez all added hits.

"I've been feeling a lot more confident than I have in the past," Carr said. "I just went up there looking to make a good swing. I just look to get a base hit each time I go up to bat."

Gay (8-5) picked up the win, throwing five innings and allowing one run on six hits and a pair of walks. She added five strikeouts in the game, moving to within 30 of matching Jen Steele's 409 career punchouts.

"I had a few nerves with our home opener and everything surrounding it," Gay said. "We got both wins, so that's the most important thing. I thought we did a good job of competing today. This gives us a big confidence boost as a team."

Sydney Backstrom came on to work a perfect final two innings to pick up her second save of the season. She added a pair of strikeouts, throwing 20 pitches, 14 for strikes.

Longwood was able to overcome a pair of multi-hit games from Sofia Tapia and Hannah Medlam. Tapia drove in the Highlanders' lone run with a fifth inning single.

Abby Morrow (I9-6) took the loss, as she went three-plus innings while giving up one run on two hits and a walk. She added a pair of strikeouts.

Kayla Huffman tossed the final three innings and was charged with giving up three runs on three hits while posting a strikeout.

Longwood 3, Radford 2

Karleigh Donovan did it again.

Donovan came to the plate with a pair in scoring position with one out in the seventh inning and delivered a clutch hit to bring home Destiny Martinez and lift the Lancers to a walk-off 3-2 win over Radford.

"I was trying to hit it hard somewhere. As soon as I got a ball that I could hit, I just drilled it," Donovan said.

 A product of Dinwiddie, Va., Donovan's latest clutch hit gave Longwood its fifth straight win and its first 2-0 start in Big South play since the 2016 season.

"I just try to keep my composure and stay calm," Donovan said. "I have 20 other people that are counting on you. I've learned that the calmer I stay, the better chance I give myself to do well in that situation. If I think too much, I think it has a negative effect on me."
 
Her walk-off seventh inning single was Donovan's second clutch hit in a span of three innings, after tying the game 2-2 with a single into left field in the fifth inning.

"Kaleigh's in the four-hole for a reason," Riley said. "She has a confidence in herself in late-game situations where she needs to come up with a clutch hit and she displayed that again today."

Donovan finished 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of RBI, as she was one of four Lancers with multi-hit performances. Kaylynn Batten added a pair of hits while Kasey Carr and Jessica Smith each went 2-for-2 at the dish.

Longwood posted 10 or more hits for the seventh time this season, improving to a perfect 7-0 in those performances.

Sydney Gay (9-5) earned her fourth straight win, coming on in relief of Sydney Backstrom and throwing a scoreless final 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and retiring all seven batters she faced.

Backstrom got the start in the circle, going 4.2 innings and giving up two unearned runs on four hits in 4.2 innings of work. She threw 69 pitches, 40 for strikes.

Abby Morrow went the distance in the circle for the Highlanders, allowing three runs, one earned, on 10 hits and a pair of walks. She struck out three, throwing 101 pitches, 62 for strikes.

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