CHARLESTON, S.C. – When Longwood softball needed her, Sydney Backstrom delivered. The team's ace stepped up and blanked Charleston Southern to clinch the series on Sunday afternoon.
 
Backstrom struck out eight while throwing her second three-hitter in as many days, and she earned the win in a 1-0 white-knuckler that came down to the wire.
 
The graduate student struck out eight for Longwood (9-16, 3-3 Big South) in her seven innings of work. Backstrom (7-8) scattered four walks and three hits without any damage on the scoreboard, outdueling Annah Junge (6-6) who took the loss for Charleston Southern.
 
Junge, who had edged Backstrom on Saturday in the series opener, struck out four but gave up eight hits and two walks.
 
While Junge was able to dance around the eight hits for most of the day, Longwood's offense ground out the lone run of the game in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Kayley DeVivi poked a single up the middle. Jaden Pone came home on the play for a 1-0 lead.
 
Charleston Southern (10-16, 2-4 Big South) put runners on base in each of the next three innings, but Backstrom worked out of trouble each time. She struck out at least one batter in each of the final three innings while leaving five Bucs stranded on base.
 
"So proud of our ladies' hard work and grit," said Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown. "They fought every pitch for seven innings, and I cannot ask for more than that. Excited to be playing at home this week. Looking forward to six great games."
 
The series wrapped up Longwood's long road swing to start the season that saw the team play away from Farmville for their first 25 games, including their first two conference series.
 
The Lancers will play host to #6 Virginia Tech in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 for their home opener that also begins a six-game homestand. They will then host North Carolina on Wednesday, March 23 at 6 p.m. before playing welcoming North Carolina A&T State to the Lancer Softball Field on Saturday and Sunday, March 26-27 for a three-game series.
 
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