COLUMBIA, S.C. - Longwood racked up nine hits, but No. 21 South Carolina avoided any major damage by stranding 11 base runners. The same was not true in reverse, as the Gamecocks (11-3) won 10-0.
Willie Havens had a strong showing for the Lancers (7-6) with three hits on a double and two singles, but South Carolina countered with four home runs.
TOP LWU PERFORMERS:
Willie Havens: 3-4, 1 2B
Kevin Warunek: 2.0 IP, 4 SO, 1 ER
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Longwood started strong and loaded the bases in the first inning behind singles by Havens and
Hayden Harris and a walk from
Noah Campanelli. However, South Carolina wiggled out of the jam.
That would ultimately be the theme of the night. Through the first four innings of the game, South Carolina forced the Lancers to strand seven base runners.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina offense took a 6-0 lead through four innings. Dylan Brewer helped lead the way for South Carolina with three hits, three RBI and three runs on the day.
Brewer had a pair of homers late in the game to help seal the deal.
Eli Jones (2-0) earned the win for South Carolina. He gave up nine hits in six innings, but he didn't allow a run while striking out five.
Brenton Fisher (1-1) took the loss for Longwood. He struck out two in two innings of work against four runs, three earned.
Kevin Warunek was solid in relief out of the bullpen with four strikeouts against one run in his two innings.
WHAT THEY SAID:
"I am proud of our guys tonight, but not satisfied," said Longwood Head Coach
Chad Oxendine. "We will take this game and continue to get better as we do not believe in moral victories. We have to find ways to push runners across when we get them on base. That is something we take pride in and tonight we didn't get it done."
NOTABLES:
Hayden Harris has extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Kevin Warunek has now struck out four batters in both of his last two outings.
UP NEXT:
Longwood looks to even the series in game two Saturday, March 9th, at 4 p.m. against No. 21 South Carolina.
#GoWood #HorsePower
