SPARTANBURG, S.C. — USC Upstate's Abigail Pippen lined a single up the middle, scoring two to lift the Spartans to a 4-3 eight-inning win to open its Big South Conference doubleheader with Longwood at Cyrill Stadium Friday.

The Spartans (17-15, 6-2) followed the walk-off victory with a 9-2 triumph in the nightcap.

"When adversity comes you can get better and stronger or quit," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "We choose to get better and stronger."

Pippen's game-winning single off of Maggie Chapin came after Longwood graduate student shortstop Lauren Taylor launched a go-ahead solo home run — her second of the season — to right-center field in the top of the extra frame, putting the Lancers (11-23, 4-4) up, 3-2.

Celeste DeLorenzo began the bottom of the eighth by coaxing a walk from Chapin prior to Carson Shaw getting hit by a pitch. After a fielder's choice forced DeLorenzo out at third, an Emily Stern single loaded the bases, setting the stage for Pippen's game-ending base hit.

Chapin fell to 11-11 in the loss going the distance. She scattered six hits, struck out four and walked for, allowing four earned runs. Maddie Drerup improved to 6-7 with her complete-game effort. She gave up three earned runs, nine hits and one walk while fanning one.

The Lancers scored first, plating two runs in the second inning. Sophia Knock walked and Korynna Anderson singled to right to begin the rally. Avery Miller then grounded back to the pitching circle, moving the runners up. Emily Vinson dropped down a perfect bunt that allowed pinch runner Peyton Coleman to scamper home, just getting in under the tag.

Maggie Hiatt then laid down a sac bunt to score Anderson.

DeLorenzo led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo homer to center, cutting the Longwood advantage in half. The Spartans tied it, 2-2, in the fifth when Amie Johnson singled and Lauren Fox bobbled the ball in left field, allowing Abby Polk to score with one out.

Fox and Taylor were a combined 4-for-8 at the top of the lineup to lead the Lancers' nine-hit attack. Anderson also hit 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored. Six different players collected hits for USC Upstate in the opener.

The Spartans jumped out to a 6-0 lead through three innings in game two. DeLorenzo hammered her second home run of the doubleheader in a four-run third frame off of freshman left-hander Cierra Gawryluk (0-4), who gave way to junior righty Er'ron Burton following the blast. 

Freshman designated player Berkeley Whitten helped Longwood cut into the lead in the fifth with a two-out RBI single — her first career hit — to right center, scoring Coleman. Classmate Naleya Bridges then singled, plating Mary Zepeda to make it 6-2. That was as close as the Lancers got, however, as Upstate answered with one run in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the sixth for the final margin. 

Gawryluk allowed three hits, two walks and four earned runs in two innings, while Burton gave up five hits, four walks and three earned in the final four innings. 

Sierra Maness (9-6) carried a no-hitter two outs into the fifth inning before Knock ended it with a single to right center. Maness surrendered six hits and two unearned runs, fanning six in the complete-game victory.

The teams close the series Saturday at 4 p.m., on ESPNU.