RALEIGH, N.C. – Longwood met its first road test of the season with a feistiness that kept them hanging around all afternoon against 13^th ranked NC State on Tuesday afternoon. The Wolfpack never pulled away but used early runs to take down Longwood 6-1 and remain unbeaten in 2020.
 
The two offenses struggled to put together big innings as both pitching staffs kept the bats from getting hot. NC State (4-0) came in hitting .327 as a team, but the Wolfpack never had more than three hits or two runs in a single inning. The Lancer (1-4) pitching staff didn't allow a base hit over the final four innings. NC State's staff returned the favor and limited Longwood to seven base runners and no hits after the sixth inning.
 
"It was a great challenge tonight, and I thought our guys came ready to compete," said Longwood head coach Ryan Mau. "I thought our bullpen did an outstanding job against a very tough lineup. After the no out single in the fourth, we were able to keep them hitless the rest of the way. Our staff has to cut down the free passes, but this was a game we will grab a ton of positives from and continue to build upon."
 
NC State was patient at the plate early and combined six walks and six hits in the first four innings for six runs. Tyler McDonough's RBI double in the first inning gave the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead, and Lawson McArthur singled home a run in the second inning to make it 2-0. The Wolfpack added a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings. Devonte Brown led the charge with a solo homer and a bases loaded walk, but Longwood's pitching staff was able to buckle down and keep the game tight.
 
Following the fourth inning, Longwood freshman left-hander Aidan McEvoy started a string of four straight scoreless innings with a scoreless fifth, and Maceo Campbell, Andrew Melnyk and Josh Longabaugh each added a scoreless inning as well.
 
Meanwhile, NC State starter David Harrison kept Longwood's offense from finding a groove through the first five innings, and his defense helped erase any base hits for the Lancers. In the sixth inning, the Lancer offense scratched across a run after Michael Peterson was hit by a pitch and Antwaun Tucker's single sent him to second. After a flyout put Peterson at third, Jack Schnell poked an RBI single through the left side for his team-leading sixth RBI of the season to trim the lead to 6-1.
 
"Offensively, we didn't have many opportunities, and you have to credit Harrison, who kept us off balance with his plus changeup," said Mau.
 
Harrison (1-0) earned the win with six innings of one-run ball. The left-hander struck out seven while allowing five hits without a walk.
 
Gage Williams (0-1) took the loss for the Lancers in his first appearance of since an injury-shortened 2019 season. The sophomore right-hander struck out two while giving up two runs on two hits and a walk in 1.2 innings of work.
 
"It has been a long journey for Gage, who returns from injury, and I thought he did a good job in his first appearance in nearly a year," said Mau.
 
 
Longwood returns home for a three-game series against New Jersey Institute of Technology that opens on Friday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
 
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