FARMVILLE, Va. – Campbell used back-to-back complete-game shutouts from ace Megan Richards and No. 2 Georgeanna Barefoot to deal Longwood its first two losses in Big South play, snap the Lancers' 11-game win streak and sweep a series-opening doubleheader 3-0 and 9-0 Friday afternoon at Lancer Field.
 
Richards (4-2) and Barefoot (5-4) combined to shut down a Lancer team that entered the day averaging 6.7 runs per game and batting .318 during an 11-game win streak that was the third-longest of the program's Division I era. Richards blanked Longwood through seven innings in Friday's opener, and Barefoot followed with a five-inning, one-hit shutout in the nightcap.
 
The back-to-back losses are Longwood's first since March 10 when the Lancers (15-15, 6-2 Big South) began a four-week streak of four consecutive series wins, including Big South road sweeps at preseason favorite Gardner-Webb and Winthrop, and an undefeated start at home.
 
Richards' shutdown performance in the opener helped the Fighting Camels (11-10, 4-1 Big South) overcome another strong complete-game start from Longwood ace and reigning Big South Pitcher of the Week Sydney Backstrom. Going the distance for the Big South-leading 12th time this year, Backstrom gave up just five hits and three runs but got zero run support and suffered her first defeat in her past eight decisions as a result.
 
"After the game, we spent a lot of time talking about Longwood softball and what that looks like in different areas of our game," said first-year Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown. "Honestly, I think this could have been the most valuable lesson we've had in a year where we've had a lot of valuable lessons.
 
"Campbell is a good team, they're well-coached and they play well. I think this showed us what we're capable of, both good and bad. That's a good thing. Sometimes losses, while they aren't pleasant in the moment, they can serve to build character and build some of the things we're going to need later in the year. If that's what this builds, it's a lesson well learned."
 
Backing Richards and Barefoot was a Campbell defense that made just one error on the day and a Fighting Camel lineup that belted two home runs, including a game-two grand slam by Diana Parker. Campbell's work in the field allowed Richards to strand nine baserunners in game one and Barefoot to face just one batter over the minimum in game two.
 
Along with Parker's grand slam and five RBI in game two, cleanup hitter Kayla Fredenhall homered and drove in two runs in game one.
 
The finale of the three-game series between the teams is set for 1 p.m. Saturday and will air on ESPN3.
 
Game One: Richards Outduels Backstrom 3-0 in Battle of Two Big South Aces
 
In a showdown between two of the best pitchers in the Big South, one swing of the bat made the difference.
 
Campbell cleanup hitter Kayla Fredenhall delivered that game-winning knock in the first inning, drilling a two-out, two-run homer over the right field wall to give Campbell ace Megan Richards all the run support she would need to lift the Fighting Camels (10-10, 3-1 Big South) to a 3-0 win over Longwood in game one of Friday's series-opening doubleheader.
 
Campbell became the first Big South team to defeat Longwood (15-14, 6-1 Big South) this season and snapped the Lancers' 11-game winning streak that began on March 10.
 
Fredenhall's first-inning home run was one of only 11 hits in the game for both teams, as Richards (4-2) and Longwood ace Sydney Backstrom (11-7) went toe-to-toe in a Big South pitcher's duel that lasted just 99 minutes. Richards scattered just five hits in her 7.0 complete innings, striking out four on the way to becoming only the fourth pitcher to shut out Longwood this season.
 
That performance from Richards – who entered the weekend as the Big South leader with a 2.44 ERA – was enough to overcome another strong start from Backstrom, whose three runs allowed came on just five hits. The Longwood ace and reigning Big South Pitcher of the Week struck out six in her Big South-leading 12th complete game of the season but for only the third time all season got no run support from her offense.
 
Richards' shutout came against a Longwood team averaging 6.7 runs per game during its 11-game win streak and brought to a close the third-longest winning streak of the program's Division I era.
 
Longwood shortstop Kasey Carr drove two of Longwood's singles, while catcher Alexis Wayland extended her hitting streak to 13 games and classmate Sydney Jacobsen pushed hers to 11 games, both with one single apiece. However, Richards stranded eight Lancers on base, including a combined five in scoring position in the final three innings, to work around Longwood's six hits.
 
Game Two: Big First Inning Ignites Campbell Offense in 9-0 Win
 
After squeezing out three runs on five hits against Longwood ace Sydney Backstrom in Friday's opener, Campbell's bats awakened early in game two and rode a first-inning grand slam from Diana Parker to a 9-0 victory.
 
Parker stepped to the plate in the first inning with the bases loaded and a 1-0 lead and blasted the third pitch she saw down the left field line for her first home run of the season. The long ball ignited a six-run rally in Campbell's first turn at the plate and gave starter Georgeanna Barefoot a 6-0 lead before she ever stepped foot into the circle.
 
Barefoot needed only a fraction of that run support, though, as the redshirt freshman right-hander held Longwood to just two hits the rest of the way en route to her second straight win.
 
Barefoot held Longwood without a hit until Leah Powell's leadoff single in the top of the third but shook off that knock and faced just one batter over the minimum the rest of the way. The lone Lancer to reach base after Powell was designated player Madison Blair, who drove a one-out double to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth but had her pinch runner Kayley DeVivi stranded on third after Barefoot sat down the final two hitters she faced to end the game.
 
Along with Parker's homer, first baseman Claire Blount forced in two RBI with two of her three walks, and catcher Morgan Rios sent in another with an RBI triple.
 
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