CHARLESTON, S.C. – Not much separated Longwood and Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon. The two teams split a doubleheader by a total of three runs.
 
In the first game, Charleston Southern (10-15, 2-3 Big South) fended off a seventh-inning Longwood rally to win 2-0 behind Raleigh Lewis's two-run home run and Annah Junge's ace performance in the circle.
 
The Lancers (8-16, 2-3 Big South) answered back to take down the Bucs 4-3 in 10 innings. Er'ron Burton was phenomenal in the circle, and the freshman earned her first collegiate win while striking out 11. A pair of homers, one from Lauren Taylor and one from Alexis Wayland, along with a clutch knock in extras by Sydney Guess, provided the offense.
 
"Hard fought day for the team," said Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown. "I'm so proud of these young women, their fight, and their resolution to stay committed to what they train to do. Excited for another tough game tomorrow."
 
The two teams tangle for the series at noon on Sunday.
 
Game One: Charleston Southern 2, Longwood 0
 
In pitcher's duels, one swing can change the outcome of the game. Charleston Southern took advantage of that, coupled with a costly Longwood error, to take the opening game of the three-game series 2-0.
 
Raleigh Lewis hit a two-run home run in the third inning for the Bucs (10-14, 2-2 Big South), and Annah Junge (6-5) made it stick with seven shutout innings.
 
The Lancers (7-16, 1-3 Big South) rallied late and loaded the bases in the seventh inning with one out, but Junge induced a popup and struck out the last batter of the game to preserve the complete game shutout.
 
Longwood outhit Charleston Southern, posting six hits on the day as both Jaden Pone and Sydney Guess each had a pair of hits.
 
However, Charleston Southern put one on base in the third off a Longwood error at second base, and Lewis clobbered a two-out home run over the centerfield wall for the only runs of the game.
 
Sydney Backstrom (6-8) took a tough loss for Longwood after throwing a three-hitter. She struck out six and walked two while giving up two unearned runs.
 
Game Two: Longwood 4, Charleston Southern 3, 10 Innings
 
Much like game one, game two was tight throughout the contest, and it took 10 innings to find a winner.
 
Er'ron Burton (1-1) was masterful for the Lancers. The freshman put together her best performance of the season in the circle. She shook off a slow start and pitched nine innings while striking out 11, with both representing career bests.
 
That was enough thanks to big swings from Lauren Taylor and Alexis Wayland prior to extra innings. The duo clobbered a home run apiece. Both homers were game-tying shots. Sydney Guess provided the separation with an RBI single in the 10^th.
 
CSU managed to find success in the first thanks to a Westin Jones RBI triple and Gracie Prince RBI double that made it 2-0.
 
Burton settled down though and retired nine of the next 11 batters she faced, including striking out the side in the fourth inning.
 
Meanwhile, Longwood's offense capitalized on a Charleston Southern error in the fifth. Taylor swatted her two-run shot to tie the game at 2-2.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Buccaneers retook the lead when Erika Cooper came home after an RBI fielder's choice by Weslin Jones.
 
Wayland answered right back for Longwood. She cranked a home run to centerfield to even the score at three apiece.
 
Burton kept Charleston Southern at bay by retiring the final 12 batters she faced through the end of the ninth inning.
 
In the 10^th inning, the international tiebreak rule took effect, and Sydney Guess poked an RBI single into centerfield to score Taylor for Longwood's first lead of the day, 4-3.
 
Sydney Backstrom came on to shut the door. She earned the save while striking out one in one inning.
 
Baylee Eaton (2-7) took the loss for Charleston Southern. She pitched the final three innings, giving up one unearned run in the 10^th on three hits.
 
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