COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A combined no-hitter in a run-rule win over Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, along with an offense that had 26 hits in 12 innings throughout the day led Longwood softball to a dominating doubleheader sweep over Lamar and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Friday at the Texas A&M Invite.

Longwood had three different players record three hits in a 6-3 win over Lamar to start the day, before Sydney Gay and Mason Basdikis combined for a no-hitter and were supported by a nine-run third inning in the Lancers' win over the Islanders in the second game.

With the pair of wins, Longwood (10-3) has won nine of its last 10 games and matching its best 13-game start to a season in the Division I era, joining the 2011 and 2012 teams in winning 10 of the first 13 games. It marks the best start to a campaign since the Lancers joined the Big South.

The combined no-hitter from Gay and Basdikis is the first for the Lancers since Elizabeth McCarthy no-hit Gardner-Webb during the 2017 season, as it was part of a day that Longwood pitching continued its dominant stretch in not allowing more than three earned runs for the eighth time in its last 10 games.

Longwood's bats supported the Lancer pitchers, combining for 26 hits in the 12 innings played and remaining unbeaten on the season when scoring six or more runs.

Kasey Carr served as the catalyst for a Longwood offense that hit .448 in the two games, going 4-for-4 with a triple on the day with three RBI, two runs scored and earning a pair of walks to reach base in all six of her plate appearances to raise her batting average from .148 to .258 on the season.

Karleigh Donovan had five hits throughout the day, going 5-for-7 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Alexis Wayland and Chelsea Whitcomb each contributed four hits. In addition, Jenna Dunn had three hits over the course of the two games, while Jessica Smith and Kaylynn 'Bug' Batten each finished with a pair of hits.

Longwood looks to continue its momentum, as the Lancers face SEC power Texas A&M at 4 p.m., before a rematch with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi follows at 6:15 p.m.

Game 1: Lancer Bats Come Alive in 6-3 Win Over Lamar

Three Lancers combined had three-hit days, as Longwood combined for 14 hits in a 6-3 win over Lamar in the first game of the afternoon.

Kasey Carr led the charge in reaching base in each of her four at-bats and going 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBI along with a run scored. Moved to the top of the lineup, Chelsea Whitcomb joined Carr with three hits in a 3-for-5 performance while Karleigh Donovan also added a three-hit day by going 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Alexis Wayland was the fourth Lancer with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for her second straight two-hit performance.

It was all in support of Longwood starter Sydney Backstrom (5-1) who drew the start and gave up three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings while adding five strikeouts. Backstrom, who carried a one-hitter into the fifth inning, has won her last four decisions since dropping her first game of the year, as the sophomore has not yielded more than three runs in any of her starts this season.

Sydney Gay came on to pick up her first save of the season, tossing 1.2 innings and giving up just one hit along with a pair of walks while striking out two.

"The Lamar ladies fought well today and I was happy with our responses to their challenges," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "Pitching gave us a lift early by keeping Lamar off balance and the offense followed by fighting hard to get our momentum to stay consistent."

The Lancers were able to capitalize on a quick start, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning on an RBI double from Wayland, along with a Jordan Clark fielder's choice.
After Wayland recorded her second RBI of the day in the fourth, the Lancers added two more runs on Carr's first career triple.

Lamar broke the shutout with a pair of runs in the fifth and added a run in the sixth, before loading the bases in the seventh and before a double play ball hit right to Carr ended the threat.

Maddy Myers led the Cardinals (8-10) at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance.

Julia Voluntad (2-6) took the loss, surrendering six runs on 14 hits while pitching all seven innings, throwing 150 pitches, 94 for strikes.

Game 2: Gay, Basdikis Combine for No-Hitter in 9-0 Run-Rule

Big South Preseason  co-Pitcher of the Year Sydney Gay and freshman Mason Basdikis combined for a no-hitter in Longwood's 9-0 run-rule win over Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.

The no-hitter for the Lancers is the first since Elizabeth McCarthy tossed a no-no against Gardner-Webb, as Gay and Basdikis faced four batters over the minimum, issuing four walks.

The pair was supported by a nine-run third inning that saw Longwood send 13 batters to the plate and combining for 10 hits.

Gay (5-2) got the start and the win, going three innings and allowing three walks to go with three strikeouts in throwing 55 pitches, 29 strikes against 12 batters faced. In her six appearances on the season, Gay hasn't allowed more than two earned runs and bettered her ERA to 1.28 on the season.

With the victory, Gay becomes the fourth Lancer to earn at least 65 victories in her career, joining Briana Wells, McCarthy and Jen Steele.

Basdikis came on in relief of Gay to begin the fourth, issuing a walk while retiring six of seven batters faced in her second career appearance in the circle.

Four different Lancers finished with multi-hit games, as Alexis Wayland, Kaylynn 'Bug' Batten, Jenna Dunn and Karleigh Donovan each finished with a pair of hits in a game that saw eight different Lancers have at least one hit.

"We did a strong job of hanging in with the bats today when we had runners on base," said head coach Kathy Riley. "This team has just started to scratch the surface offensively and we have some exciting room for growth."

Alexis Ruel (1-6) took the loss for the Islanders (2-15), allowing seven runs, all earned, on nine hits and a pair of walks in two-plus innings. Alexis Tovar came on in relief, giving up two runs on three hits while facing nine batters.

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