ORLANDO, Fla. – After an hour rain delay, Longwood kicked off their Saturday double-header with games against Minnesota and Central Florida at the CFX Classic. The Gophers bested the Lancers in game one 6-3 before UCF took down the Lancers 9-1 in five innings.
 
In the first game, Minnesota used a late three-run home run to seal the deal, and UCF's Gianna Mancha one-hit a Lancer offense that had outhit each of its first three opponents to start the season.
 
Lauren Taylor, Korynna Anderson and Mason Basdikis all had multi-hit days, with Taylor driving in a pair of runs on the day.
 
In the circle, the Lancers used multiple pitchers, and Reagan Kanagawa pitched in both games for the Lancers against teams that advanced to the NCAA regional last season.

"They were two hard fought games today, and there were many lessons learned," said Head Coach Megan Brown. "Along with everything we learned, there are definitely a lot of opportunities for growth on both sides of the ball."
 
Longwood has one game left in the CFX Classic with a rematch against 12^th ranked Georgia at noon on Sunday.
 
Game 1: Minnesota Uses Late Rally To Top Longwood 6-3
 
Longwood drew first blood in their late afternoon game against Minnesota, but the Gophers used a five run flurry across the fifth and sixth innings to rally past the Lancers.
 
Offensively for Longwood (1-2), junior Lauren Taylor went 2-3, adding two RBI and a home run to her productive day at the plate. Korynna Anderson and Mason Basdikis added a pair of hits apiece for a Longwood offense that posted 10 hits on the day.
 
Minnesota's Chloe Evans had a four RBI game that included what would be the game deciding three run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Minnesota (2-2) had a near six inning performance from Emily Leavitt (1-1) in the circle. Leavitt allowed just two runs on eight hits to limit the Lancers offense and pick up her first victory of the season.

Reagen Kanagawa (0-1) got the start in the circle for the second time in as many days for Longwood. Kanagawa went 2.2 innings and faced 14 batters, allowing an unearned run. Backstrom (1-1) took the loss after coming on in relief in the third inning and finished the game with 3.1 innings pitched, allowing five runs.
 
Longwood struck first in the top of the second when Lauren Taylor hit a solo home run down the left field line. Minnesota responded in the third inning, knotting the game back at one a-piece after a wild pitch scored Natalie Denhartog. The Gophers would add to their tally in the fifth inning, when Lauren Espalin and Denhartog scored off a fielder's choice and a single from Emily Hansen, respectively.

The Lancers would remain quiet until the sixth inning, when Madison Blair drew a bases loaded walk, but Minnesota escaped the jam. The Gophers would add insurance runs through a three-run home run off the bat of Evans in the bottom half of the sixth.

Lauren Taylor added to her RBI count on the night with seventh inning sacrifice fly, but the comeback fell ultimately short.

Game Two: Mancha's Gem Powers UCF Past Longwood 9-1
 
Gianna Mancha was outstanding in the circle in the nightcap for UCF, posting a one-hitter over five innings for Central Florida. She earned the win while striking out four batters and only faced 18, three more than the minimum over five innings of work.
 
The UCF offense took an early lead off Shannon Doherty's RBI single in the first inning, and two more unearned runs came home in the second.
 
Mancha didn't need more than that, but her offense got rolling in the third inning and punched home five runs with Jada Cody roping a bases-loaded triple. She came around to score on a throwing error, and the Knights led 8-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, Korynna Anderson flied out sending Emily Vinson around the bases after Vinson had tapped a single through the right side on a 2-2 count. Vinson has had a strong start to her freshman season with five runs, one home run, and six hits after the first four games.
 
Kanagawa took the loss for Longwood after surrendering three runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks with one strikeout.

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