SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood split day one of conference play with the USC Upstate Spartans after a 7-1 win, and a 3-5 loss in the late afternoon on Friday.
 
"Strong start to conference in game one. Have to come out ready to go tomorrow," said Head Coach Megan Brown.
 
A strong offensive performance, backed by a solid performance in the circle by super-senior Sydney Backstrom led the Lancers to victory in game one. An early lead hung for all seven innings, with all players on the field contributing on both sides of the ball.
 
The loss in game one, dished the Spartans only its second loss on the year. The final score sitting at 7-1 was also the first time in five matchups the game wasn't decided by a single run between the two conference foes.
 
In game two, the Spartans were able to rally and grab the late inning victory of 5-3 win over the Lancers, due to a two-run single off of Celeste Delorenzo's bat.
 
Longwood will be out again at 1 p.m. on Cyrill Softball Stadium for the third and final game of the series.
 
Game One: Longwood Dominates Game One Over Spartans Earning 7-1 Victory
 
Longwood struck gold early, and often, in game one taking the first win of the series 7-1 over USC Upstate. This is the first time in five matchups between the Lancers and Spartans that the game wasn't decided by a single run.
 
A huge offensive performance by seniors Mason Basdikis and Sydney Jacobsen highlighted the stat sheet for Longwood (7-14, 1-1 Big South) on Friday afternoon. Both Jacobsen and Basdikis were 3-4 from the plate, with Basdikis adding two stolen bases, and two RBI's that came in the multi-run inning for Longwood that secured the victory.
 
The Lancers got on the board early, with the first offensive push coming from a two out rally in the top of the first. Things kicked off in the top of the first when Lauren Taylor was hit by pitch, putting her on with no outs. Jaden Pone at the plate reached first due to a throwing error allowing Taylor positioned on second to go all the way around the bases grabbing the early run and the Lancers were up 1-0.
 
The offense stayed active in the second, but it wasn't until the top of the third where scoring resumed for Longwood. Leading it off was Kelly Park who knocked a single into right field that dropped putting her on safe. Kayley Devivi grabbed the third straight single of the inning, and added another RBI of the year, scoring Wayland.
 
The two out rally continued when the senior pair of Jacobsen and Basdikis both added singles scoring one, with two still on. Fox placed a bunt perfectly down the third baseline out running the throw to first. Senior Lauren Taylor up again with the bases loaded stroked one to right center field, allowing two runners to cross home. In the same play, an error by short stop Sarah Price, pushed Fox to circle the bases leaving the score at 6-0 at the end of the away side fourth.
 
The Spartans (19-2, 1-1 Big South) showed some life in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single off the bat of Summer Johnson, who batted in Tiffany Domingue who got on from a walk – the only one thrown by Backstrom in the game.
 
Backstrom completed the game and earned the win advancing her personal record to 6-6. The super-senior pitcher added another seven strikeouts on the year to go along with four hitless innings in the first game of the three game series.
 
Game Two: Late Inning Rally Push Spartans Passed Lancers In Game Two 5-3
 
The Upstate Spartans rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome the Lancers after breaking the tie, winning it with a final score of 5-3.
 
Standouts Celeste Delorenzo and Tiffany Domingue helped score four out of the Spartan's five final runs of the contest. Domingue batted in two in a RBI to right field in the first inning giving the home side the early lead.
 
With the game tied in the bottom of the sixth inning, it was Delorenzo that hit a two run single into deep outfield that enhanced the Spartans lead to 5-3 that would stand through the final inning, bringing the home team its 19^th victory of the year.  
 
In the first inning, Madison Lanoux was intentionally walked and advanced into scoring position after an error by the Lancers. Fellow teammate Summer Johnson roped a single to center field, which advanced runners to second and third. Shortly after, Domingue belted one of her specialty singles to right center, grabbing a two-run RBI giving the early 2-0 lead in the Spartans favor.
 
In the fourth inning, Longwood answered back after Sydney Jacobsen smoked a double to center field. Fellow Lancer Sydney Guess sent a single down the right field line, which sent Jacobsen home and advanced Mason Basdikis to third. Following in her teammate's footsteps, center fielder Lauren Fox poked a single into center field, which scored a run to tie the game 2-2.
 
Top of the fifth, Jaden Pone reached second on a throwing error from third base. Longwood took a 3-2 lead after Kayley Devivi grounded out to shortstop, which sent Pone home from second.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lanoux did what she had to do grabbing a late game single to shortstop Lauren Taylor, beating the throw out at first. Johnson belted a single to right field, which advanced Lanoux to second. A walked batter resulted in the bases loaded with just one out recorded.
 
Peyton Darnell grounded out to second base, scoring Lanoux on a fielder's choice. Delorenzo singled to second base, which scored Domingue and Deal giving the Spartans the lead they were looking for.
 
Starting Pitcher Hannah Houge (11-1) earned the win for the Spartans and recorded seven punch-out's from the circle, all while giving up 11 hits, and allowing only three runs in her outing against the Lancers.
 
Longwood sits with a 7-14 record, 1-1 in Big South play moving into tomorrow's game. To stay up-to-date this season about your Longwood Lancer softball program, follow us on Twitter @longwoodSB or @longwoodlancers.
 
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