Leading Off
• Longwood split the Elon Softball Classic with a 2-2 start to the 2020 campaign. The Lancers look move above .500 on the season as Longwood begins a stretch of 15 straight games in the Sunshine State.
• Longwood was voted as the Big South preseason favorite for the fifth consecutive season. In addition, Sydney Backstrom was tabbed as the league's preseason co-Pitcher of the Year.
• The Lancers open the Bubly Invitational against Florida A&M University before turning their attention to a national powerhouse, the University of Florida, on the first day of the Invitational.
• Sydney Backstrom appeared in 14.2 innings of work for the Lancers in their opening weekend in Elon, N.C. Backstrom recorded one win and save in her three appearances while striking out 23 batters.
Last Time Out
• Longwood used two late-inning offensive performances to best University of Rhode Island and Seton Hall on the opening day of the Elon Softball Classic.
• Day two was not as kind to the Lancers as Longwood fell to host Elon University in back-to-back games to close out the Classic.
• On day one Sydney Backstrom was dominant in both games, tossing an eight-inning complete game in the opener against Rhode Island before returning to the mound against Seton Hall to record the final two outs and a save
• Meanwhile, Nia Green made herself known to the Lancer faithful with two hits, two RBI, one run and a stolen base in her first start for Longwood against Seton Hall in the 7-5 victory.
By The Numbers
• Longwood looks to get back to the NCAA Regionals in 2020, as the Lancers look to win their sixth Big South Championship in eight seasons.
• Longwood's 2020 slate will pit the five-time Big South Champion Lancers against a stacked non-conference gauntlet that includes four conference champions, six NCAA Regional qualifiers, and one opponent who participated in the Women's College World Series. On the schedule in 2020 consists of College World Series contender, the University of Florida, along with ACC power-houses, Florida State, Duke, University of North Carolina, and Virginia Tech. NCAA Regional qualifiers, North Dakota State. Florida A&M, and James Madison and South East Louisiana also appear on the docket for the Lancers.
• For the fifth straight season, Longwood was tabbed to win the Big South. Despite capturing five Big South Championships in its seven previous seasons.
• Longwood returns three players that earned Big South accolades in 2019, including Big South Coach of the Year Kathy Riley. Joining Riley with conference honors are Sydney Backstrom, Sydney Jacobsen, and Alexis Wayland.
• Longwood softball head coach Kathy Riley enters her 23rd season leading the program. Longwood's all-time winningest coach, Riley, has accumulated 725 career wins at Longwood and 812 wins in her illustrious career.
• Longwood has swept 25 of the three-game series it has played among conference foes while accumulating a 122-39 (.758) regular-season record since joining the Big South.
• The Lancers have won 44 of their 52 series against Big South conference opponents since joining the league.
Bubly Invitational
Friday, February 14th
2:00 p.m. -- Longwood at Florida A&M
7:00 p.m. -- Longwood at Univ. of Florida
Saturday, February 15th
2:00 p.m. -- Longwood at Univ. of Florida
4:30 p.m. -- Longwood at Southeastern Louisiana University
Sunday, February 16th
9:00 a.m. -- Longwood at North Daokota state University
Scouting Florida A&M
• Florida A&M University senior Kyaria Brown was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
• Florida A&M was picked to finish second in the MEAC Coaches Poll.
• Florida A&M opened the season against five-straight nationally-ranked opponents.
Scouting Florida
• Florida is the No. 8 team in the nation entering the Bubly Invitation. The Gators boast a record of 35-0 against the members of the invitational.
• Senior Kendyl Lindaman earned a spot on the 2020 USA Softball Top 50 "Watch List." Lindaman is currently 5-of-16 from the plate this season with an on-base percentage of .500.
Scouting Southeastern Louisiana
• Junior outfielder Madisen Blackford, junior catcher Ella Manzer and senior pitcher Alley McDonald were named to the first team on the 2020 Preseason All-Southland Conference.
• Southeastern is off to a 5-1 start in their 2020 campaign with the programs only imperfection coming at the hands of UAB.
Scouting North Dakota state
• NDSU continues its swing on the East Coast as the Bison opened the season going 1-3 at the South Carolina Classic.
• North Dakota State's first 36 games will be on the road, hitting tournaments in South Carolina, Florida, Texas, California, and Utah.
#GoWood
