BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Longwood finished the day 1-1 after they grabbed their first win of the weekend over Harvard Saturday morning right before falling 2-0 to UAB in the final matchup against the host team.
 
Er'ron Burton grabbed her first complete game and start this season again UAB in game two on Saturday. Despite the end result, the freshman's mound performance was a battle that kept Longwood in the game until the final out.

"A season is a slow walk up a steep hill," said Head Coach Megan Brown. "There are moments that are great and moments where you have to put your head down and work. That has been our season so far. Struggle strengthens you or breaks you. I am proud of the strength our young ladies show each and every day. Excited for the growth our team has shown these last four weeks. Excited for our last test tomorrow before Big South play begins."
 
Longwood now sits at 1-3 on the weekend after its third loss to UAB Saturday afternoon. UAB has only allowed six runs in the team's first three outings this weekend sweeping Longwood in the process. The Lancers only one more game to play Sunday morning as they prepare for their second game against the Harvard Pilgrims.

Game One: Wayland's Two-Run Homer Earns Longwood First Win Of The Weekend

Longwood had another hot start to the game on Saturday and grabbed a win against Harvard 3-0.
 
Sydney Backstrom pitched all seven innings for the Lancers and threw six strikeouts allowing only two hits during her time in the circle.
 
Lauren Fox started things off for Longwood getting on base beating out the fielder due to an error by the third baseman. Alexis Wayland on deck, she stepped up to the plate and hit a dinger over the outfield fence scoring two for Longwood.
 
On the defensive side, Wayland also had six putouts and an assist on the day to match her second home run of the season.
 
Later in the home side of the third inning, Reagan Kanagawa circle the bases off a single from Sydney Guess that landed in left field.
 
Anna Reed was in the circle for Harvard and despite limiting the Lancers to five hits, there was not enough push on the offensive end to catch up to Longwood's early inning runs.
 
Game Two: Valbak's Near Perfect Pitching Performance Lead Blazers To Sweep The Lancers
 
UAB finished the sweep over Longwood in a 2-0 victory Saturday afternoon, where the defensive duel came into place once again for the Lancers.
 
Olivia Valbak's (1-3) grabbed her first win of the season pitching a perfect game through five innings. Following the 16^th out Longwood showed its first sign of life in the ball game. Back-to-back hits off the bats of Lauren Taylor and Mason Basdikis put two on the base for the first time in the game. Kayley Devivi out on an infield hit ended the rally for Longwood in the top of the sixth.  
 
Er'ron Burton grabbed her first start in the circle for Longwood. Burton only allowed six hits in the freshman's start, and despite falling 2-0 to the Blazers, the dynamic defensive performance held the home team, and robbed several more runs and hits from UAB offense.  
 
Longwood thinking they were out of the inning too soon, made an innocent error between short stop and short stop allowed one more hitter to step up to the plate and that was enough for a second run to score in the bottom of the third. The inning still alive, the next pitch off the hand of Burton was roped down the center of the field pushing one more Blazer over home plate giving UAB the 2-0 lead that would later stand for the remainder of the game.
 
The Blazers went 16 up, 16 down to open the game showcasing a solid defensive line that has only allowed six runs in their first three games of the Green and Gold Classic.
 
Longwood started to gain momentum in the back half of the game, but it read to be too late. Two show stopping defensive plays in the top of the fifth built up the momentum for Longwood going into their hitting half of the inning.
 
Top of the seventh Wayland and Kanagawa tried to keep the game alive hitting into the outfield but it was all a little too late as the typical starting pitcher, Sarah Cespedes, came in for relief ending the game and securing the Blazers third win over the Lancers.
 
Longwood has one more game left in the Green and Gold Classic on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. (CST)/11 a.m. (EST).
 
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