Longwood University Athletics

Games 10-14: Longwood at UCF Invitational
Site	Orlando, Fla. (UCF Softball Complex)
Time	February 28 - March 1
Game Notes	Longwood (PDF)
Season Statistics	Longwood | Ball State | Columbia | Long Island | UCF |
Live Stream	UCF Games Only
Live Stats	Ball State | Columbia | Long Island | UCF | UCF |
Social Media	@LongwoodLancers | @LongwoodSB

 

Leading Off

•    Longwood enters the UCF Invitational on a four-game skid to end the Bubly Invitational. During the four-game stretch, the Lancers competed against then No. 8 Florida and 2019 Summit League Champions North Dakota State University.  

•    The Lancers start the season with 19 straight games away from Lancer Field, including a stretch of 15 consecutive games in the Sunshine State.

•     Longwood opens play in the UCF Invitational against the Cardinals of Ball State University on February 28 with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m., followed by a 2:00 p.m. start time against Columbia University to wrap up the first day of action. The Lancers will conclude the Invitational with three games in two days, including two games against host institution, University of Central Florida. 

•    After the UCF Invitational, Longwood will stay in the Sunshine State and compete at 'The Spring Games' in Longwood, Fla., from March 6-8.

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.

•    Youth is the center of Longwood's offensive success early in the season. Sophomore Sydney Jacobsen and Freshman Lauren Taylor have combined for 17 hits through nine games, with Jacobsen recording a team-best nine hits. 

•    Freshman Lauren Taylor ranks second in the Big South Conference in batting average and on-base percentage. Taylor is hitting an even .500 (8-of-16) from the plate and has reached base .609 percent of the time for the Lancers. 

•    The Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Sydney Backstrom leads Longwood with 27 strikeouts in only 26.2 innings in the circle for the Lancers. Backstrom captured her first victory of the 2020 season on opening day, pitching 8.0 innings for the complete game, striking out 13 batters in the process. 

•    Senior Kasey Carr is tied for the most fielding double-plays in the Big South as the senior shortstop has turned four double-plays for the Lancers in only nine contests. First baseman Madison Blair has been on the receiving end of three of Carr's double-plays.  

•    Newcomer Lauren Taylor leads the Lancer offense with the longest on-base-streak of the season. Taylor has reached base in eight consecutive games for the Lancers. Taylor is also one of seven Lancers with a multi-hit game, but the only Lancer to record three hits in a game, coming against Florida A&M on February 14th. 

• 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.
 

    Weekend schedule

•    Longwood opens the UCF Invitational against the Cardinals of Ball State, then move on to Columbia to wrap up day one of the Invitational. 

•    Day two features Long Island University and host institution, University of Central Florida. Longwood will then conclude the tournament the following day with a rematch against UCF.    

   UCF Invitational

    Friday, February 28th 

    11:30 a.m.. -- Longwood vs. Ball State 

    2:00 p.m. -- Longwood vs. Columbia Univ.                            

    Saturday, February 29th

    3:30 p.m. --  Longwood vs. Long Island

    6:00 p.m. -- Longwood at University of Central Florida                
    
    Sunday, March 1st 

    2:30 p.m. -- Longwood at University of Central Florida

 

    Scouting Ball State University

•    The Cardinals enter the Invitational on a seven-game winning streak. Ball State swept the Hilltopper Classis hosted by Western Kentucky.  

•    Amaia Daniel is the Cardinals' offensive threat to the Lancers. Daniel is batting a team-best .457 from the plate with 16 hits, 3 doubles, and 1 home run. Stacy Payton has the ability to leave the park for the Cardinals in every at-bat, with a team-best six home runs. 

•    The Cardinals lean on Alyssa Rothwell and Deborah Jones in the circle. The pair has recorded 33 innings pitched apiece for Ball state with Jones having a slight advantage with 33.1 innings of work this season.

    Scouting Columbia

•    Columbia has only played in five contests this season with a record of 3-2. The Lions opened the season in 'The Spring Games' with victories over Providence, Georgetown, and Albany. 

•    Max Ortega leads the Lions with eight hits in her 17 plate appearances this season. In the circle, Columbia tabs Madison Canby as the workhouse with 17 innings of work of the 35 innings the Lions have played this season. 

    Scouting Long Island

•    Long Island enters play this weekend on a three-game skid. The Sharks left the FAU 'Strikeout Cancer' Tournament without a win. 

•    Kiana Cisneros leads the Sharks with a team-high 13 hits in 41 plate appearances for LIU. Cisneros also leads the Sharks with seven runs scored this season.

•    Tallie Woodson leads the Sharks with 33.0 innings of work in the circle with three complete games for LIU. Woodson is 2-2 on the season. 

    Scouting University of Central Florida

•    The host of the UCF Invitational enters play as the hottest team with eight straight wins, including two wins over No. 12 Tennessee. UCF is 13-2 on the year with their only losses coming against Duke, and No. 1 Washington. 

•    Georgia Blair leads the Knights with 17 hits on 47 trips to the plate. Blair is also a threat on the basepaths with 16 runs scored for UCF.

•    Alea White and Gianna Mancha split the work in the circle for the Knights. White leads the pitching staff with 41.1 innings of work, and a 7-1 record with 49 strikeouts. 

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