FARMVILLE, Va. – A pair of two-hit performances from
Karleigh Donovan and
Jenna Dunn, along with a strong, collective pitching performance, handed Longwood softball a 6-4 win over Norfolk State Friday afternoon at the Longwood's Lancer Launch Tournament at Lancer Field.
Donovan and Dunn each had a pair of hits to lead the Lancers at the plate, as Longwood had eight different players combine for 10 hits. Donovan's first inning single gave the Lancers a 1-0 lead that it never looked back from, as Longwood added a run in the second inning on a
Kaylynn 'Bug' Batten added an RBI single.
A pair of run-scoring singles from
Chelsea Whitcomb and
Jessica Smith gave Longwood a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning, before Norfolk State rallied to score four unearned runs in the seventh.
Sydney Backstrom (3-1) picked up a win for the second straight day, coming on in relief of Gay and tossing 3.1 innings while fanning five Norfolk State batters and not allowing a hit. Of the 12 batters that Backstrom faced, she retired 10 of the 12 batters she faced. Backstrom came on in relief of
Sydney Gay, who went 2.2 innings, giving up two hits along with three walks while striking out a pair of batters.
Arleigh Wood earned the save, her second of the season while allowing four unearned runs on two hits in one inning.
The performance came on the heels of a combined two-hitter with sophomore
Arleigh Wood Thursday afternoon, as Backstrom struck out nine batters for the weekend while giving up just two hits.
The win hands Longwood (5-2) its fourth consecutive win, as the Lancers outscored Robert Morris and Norfolk State by 12-5 during its Lancer Launch Tournament. Longwood pitching gave up just one earned run throughout the weekend and nine hits to combine for a 0.33 ERA.
"It was nice to come away with a win today to finish the tournament," said Longwood head coach
Kathy Riley. "We have a lot to work on to become the caliber of team we aspire to be but I know we have the right kids to do it."
Skylar Swain (1-1) suffered the loss for the Spartans (1-3), giving up three runs, two earned, on eight hits in five complete innings. She threw 67 pitches, 41 for strikes. Swain was relieved by Lily Potter, who worked the final inning and gave up three runs on two hits.
Norfolk State was led at the plate by Gabby Vaughn's 2-for-4 performance, as she had two of four hits for the Spartans.
"I wish we were playing tomorrow and am excited about getting back on the field as soon as possible," Riley said.
Longwood will have one week to prepare for the UNCG Invitational from Feb. 22-24 in Greensboro, N.C. where the Lancers will play the host Spartans at 12 p.m., before playing the second game of a doubleheader against Northern Kentucky at 2:30 p.m.
#GoWood
