FARMVILLE, Va. — The Longwood softball team belted three home runs — including two from freshman catcher Maggie Hiatt in consecutive at-bats — and sophomore right-hander Maggie Chapin posted a complete-game win in the circle as the Lancers finished a Big South Conference series sweep at Lancer Field Sunday.
Graduate student shortstop Lauren Taylor launched a homer to left in the bottom of the first to knot the game, 1-1, before Hiatt smashed homers to left to lead off the third and fifth innings, helping the Lancers build a 9-2 advantage.
"Proud of our team for coming out with fight from pitch one," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "Took everyone and lots of fight and grit.
"A big thank you to PEFYA for coming out today," Brown continued, with a nod to the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association, which attended the game, participated in an autograph signing and ran the bases postgame. "They are the future of our game."
Longwood (14-25, 7-5) had the game-winning run on second base in the bottom of the fifth inning as Avery Drake lined a double to the gap in left-center field with one out, but could not get her home.
Winthrop (18-24, 5-7) rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth, pulling to within 9-6 as Megan Powell hit a three-run homer to left and the Eagles scraped together an unearned run. That, though, was as close as the visitor got.
Kayley DeVivi singled to center in the bottom of the frame, moved second on a wild pitch and third on a Sophia Knock single. DeVivi came home on passed ball for the final margin.
Longwood outhit Winthrop, 13-7, with Korynna Anderson leading five players with multiple hits. Anderson went 3-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI. Hiatt was 2-for-4 with the two homers and three RBIs, while Taylor, DeVivi and Knock tallied two hits apiece
Chapin evened her record to 13-13 with the win in the circle scattering six hits, five walks and five earned. Reese Basinger (9-12) took the loss, allowing just one earned run. She did yield six unearned tallies to go with six hits and a walk. Powell finished the day, throwing the final four innings.
The Lancers are back in action with a Tuesday doubleheader at James Madison, beginning at 3 p.m. The first game will be carried WVHL, while both contests stream on ESPN+.
