CLINTON, S.C. – A combined 6-for-7 performance from Longwood's Kaylynn Batten and Karleigh Donovan paced the Longwood softball team to a 6-4 win over Presbyterian in the first of the three-game series Friday afternoon at PC Softball Complex.

Batten and Donovan, who hit third and fourth in the Longwood batting order, led the Lancers by combining for six of Longwood's 10 hits in the game and had three RBI and three runs scored. In addition to that pair, Kasey Carr's fourth inning two-run single gave Longwood its first lead of the day after Presbyterian (3-34, 1-12 Big South) plated a pair an inning earlier.

Longwood (26-13, 10-3 Big South) won its third consecutive conference game and overtakes Liberty for first-place in the Big South with the win along with Liberty's loss to Radford in nine innings. The Lancers recorded 10-plus hits for the second consecutive game, moving to 13-0 on the season when having at least 10 hits.

"Today was one of our weaker performances this season," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "I wasn't happy with how we played any phase of the game. I didn't think we pitched as well as we should, we made some poor decisions in the field and we didn't hit the ball very well."

Batten went 3-for-3 to collect her team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the season while extending her reached base streak to 18 consecutive games. The Kenly, N.C. product has hits in 26 of the team's 39 games played on the season and has reached base in all but two games this season to rank among the top five in the Big South with a .489 on-base percentage.

"My job is to get runners in when the opportunity presents itself," Batten said. "I knew we needed a boost and I just stayed relaxed and was able to help my team."

Meanwhile, Donovan finished with her ninth multi-hit game of the season, including her seventh consecutive game, as that has helped her raise her batting average to .328 – second on the team. Over the past week, Donovan has batted .615 with a triple and a home run along with three RBI and four runs scored.

Sydney Gay (18-8) got the win in the circle in her fourth consecutive start. Gay went 4.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one batter. She tossed 57 pitches, 40 for strikes. It marked the fifth time in her last seven outings that Gay has earned the win.

Sydney Backstrom picked up her Big South-leading fourth save of the season, coming on for Gay to begin the fifth inning and throwing three innings. She gave up two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out one.

"I thought both Sydney [Gay] and Slim [Sydney Backstrom] did well today," Batten said. "Sydney threw her curveball to keep them off balance and Slim spun the ball really well. As long as we can keep doing that, we can keep Presbyterian from scoring runs."

Alex Cook (0-12) took the loss while going the distance in the circle. She allowed six runs, three earned, on 10 hits while walking one and striking out four. Cook tossed 110 pitches, 70 for strikes.

The series between the Lancers and Blue Hose will conclude with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

"We need to come out with a different mindset tomorrow," Riley said. "We have an opportunity to get a good night's rest and that should benefit us. We should take away quite a bit from today's game in terms of how we can approach things a lot differently heading into tomorrow."

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