CHARLESTON, S.C. — Sophomore
Sophia Knock lined a double to gap in left-center field in the top of the sixth inning and senior
Kayley DeVivi chugged all the way around from first base as the the Longwood softball team slipped past Charleston Southern, 1-0, in the first game of a Big South Conference doubleheader Saturday.
Charleston Southern earned a split as Longwood spotted the Buccaneers a 4-0 lead after the first inning of the nightcap before the Lancers' comeback came up short, 6-5.
With each team taking a game Saturday, the winner of Sunday's series finale (1 p.m., ESPN+) earns the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big South tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., May 9-11.
"It is the little things this time of year that make a difference," said Longwood head coach
Dr. Megan Brown. "Lots of great lessons tonight. Lots of hard work ahead."
Knock's go-ahead double in game one spoiled a stellar outing from CSU's Nealy Lamb (12-8), who limited Longwood (17-31, 10-7) to four hits and an unearned run while striking out eight. Meanwhile, Longwood freshman left-hander
Cierra Gawryluk posted her second complete-game shutout in as many weeks for the Lancers. She held Charleston Southern (23-23, 9-7) to five hits and a walk in 85 pitches to improve to 2-6 on the season.
DeVivi reached on a fielding error by Emma Villaescusa at shortstop with two out before Knock took a 2-0 pitch from Lamb to wall for the game-winning hit.
Emily Vinson — the only Longwood player with multiple hits in the opener — went 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
Lauren Taylor and Knock collected the other hits for the Lancers. Brianna Brooks was 2-for-2 with a walk to pace the Bucs.
Er'ron Burton (1-11) allowed four unearned runs in the first inning of the second game on a pair of errors prior to settling in nicely. She went the distance, allowing four hits, three walks and two earned runs with three strikeouts, allowing Longwood an opportunity a shot at the sweep.
Avery Drake singled through the right side with two out in the second to get her team on the scoreboard at 4-1. Vinson led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Maggie Hiatt.
Charleston Southern added to its lead in the second inning when Weslin Jones hit an RBI double with one out and Carsten Sandvic followed with a run-scoring single with two gone for a 6-1 advantage.
Taylor powered her sixth homer of the season out to center field to begin the third. Burton then retired the next six batters in order.
Lauren Fox led off the fifth inning with a bunt single and stole second with one out. Knock followed with an RBI single to right field, and Anderson rocketed her first homer of the season over the fence in left to pull Longwood within one run.
The homer spelled the end of the day for CSU's Annah Junge in the circle as Riley Lauffer came in to retire Vinson with a strikeout.
Lamb entered in the sixth, allowing a single to Drake while Taylor reached on an error. Lamb, though, averted trouble with a popup.
Longwood had one more chance in the top of the seventh as Knock drew a one-out walk against Lamb and an Anderson grounder moved pinch runner
Kate Westmiller up, but Vinson was unable to get the tying run home as Lamb earned her fourth save.
Longwood outhit the Bucs, 9-4, in game two, but stranded seven on the bases. Fox, Taylor and Drake each had two hits and Anderson drove in a pair of runs.
Sandvic was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Charleston Southern.
