FARMVILLE, Va. -- The Longwood softball team returns home for the first time in 34 days to host Gardner-Webb in Big South play at Bank of the James Park in a three-game set Saturday and Sunday.
A food truck from The Fishin' Pig will be situated down the right-field line at Buddy Bolding Stadium and available to fans at both softball and baseball games Saturday.
SHORT HOPS
▪ Longwood leads the all-time series with the Runnin' Bulldogs, 35-3, since it began in 2000. The Lancers have won for of the last six games against Gardner-Webb, including consecutive 4-0 shutouts on March 16-17, 2024 to win last season's Big South series in Boiling Springs.
▪ After dropping the opening game of the series, 10-0 in five innings,
Maggie Chapin twirled a pair of complete-game shutouts. She struck out five and allowed five hits and 11 walks in the two games.
▪ When
Avery Drake steps on the field for the first time Saturday, it will be her 200th career collegiate game. She appeared in 121 at Houston Christian from 2020-23 and has played 78 in two seasons at Longwood. Drake is currently 43rd in NCAA Division I in career games played.
▪ Longwood leads the Big South Conference and is 72nd in the NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings with its pitching staff fanning 5.64 batters per game. Individually,
Maggie Chapin also ranks 72nd in the country in the category at 7.5 strikeouts per seven innings.
▪ The Lancers are tops in the Big South and 59th in the NCAA in sacrifice bunts with 20.
Sophia Pisacano is second in the league and 76th in the nation, averaging 0.2 per game.
BY THE NUMBERS
10 ▪
Longwood will play 10 teams in the top 56 of the final 2024 RPI, including Women's College World Series finalist No. 1 Texas and super regional qualifier No. 11 Georgia.
55 ▪
Avery Drake is 40th in Division I among active players in career stolen bases with 55. She played at Houston Christian (2020-23), where she swiped 39 bags.
71 ▪
Longwood played the 71st toughest schedule in 2024 with its opposition amassing a 1,448-1,185-4 record for a .550 winning percentage.
5 ▪
Head coach
Dr. Megan Brown has five wins over Power 4 schools in her time at Longwood. No other Big South institution has more than two since her arrival in 2021.
19 ▪ Longwood has played to a 560-397 (.585) record since becoming Division I eligible for the 2007 season. The Lancers are in their 19th season in Division I in 2025.
KNOCK NAMED PRESEASON BIG SOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Junior first baseman
Sophia Knock was tabbed Preseason Big South Player of the Year on Jan. 22. Knock had a breakout sophomore season earning All-Big South first team honors in 2024, belting a league-high 10 home runs while batting .326 with 31 RBIs, 46 hits and 24 walks. She was named Co-Big South Player of the Week on Feb. 27 after hitting three homers in a game against Northern Iowa. She added solo shots in the next two games against Brown and Stetson, as well, both Longwood victories.
Knock is the third Longwood player to earn the honor, joining Megan Baltzell in 2014 and 2015 and Bug Batten in 2019.
CHAPIN, GAWRYLUK ALSO PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH
Junior right-handed pitcher
Maggie Chapin and sophomore lefty
Cierra Gawryluk were named to the preseason all-Big South team, along with
Sophia Knock.
Chapin was named to the All-Big South second team last season after pitching to a 14-14 record with a 4.13 ERA in 157 2/3 innings over 36 outings, including 25 starts. She struck out 102, walked 88 and posted 14 complete games (80th in the NCAA), six shutouts (24th nationally) and earned one save.
Gawryluk earned a Big South All-Freshman Team nod in 2024 while being named to the Big South All-Tournament Team. She pitched to a team-best 3.84 ERA over 30 games and 13 starts, going 4-7 overall in 89 1/3 innings with 34 strikeouts.
Gawryluk collected consecutive Big South Freshman of the Week honors on April 22 and 29. The Suffolk, Va., native pitched to a team-best 3.84 ERA over 30 games and 13 starts, going 4-7 overall in 89 1/3 innings with 34 strikeouts, two complete-game shutouts and two saves. She struck out a season-high seven in a 7-5 Big South tournament elimination-game win over Charleston Southern on May 10.
DR. BROWN NAMED TO NFCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Head coach
Dr. Megan Brown was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Board of Directors, announced on Oct. 21. Brown, who signed a five-year contract extension in the summer to stay in Farmville through 2029, is serving a three-year term as the organization's Vice President for Education, which began on Jan. 1, and is one of three first-time board members. Brown joins California junior college representative Marian "Speedy" Mendoza of Fullerton College and travel ball representative Suzy Willemssen from Virginia Glory.
THERE ARE ONLY FOUR
Longwood is one of only four teams in NCAA Division I softball which has returned all of its pitching staff from the 2024 season. The others are Jacksonville State, Notre Dame and North Dakota State.
BIG SOUTH DOMINANCE
Since joining the Big South Conference in 2013, Longwood has emerged as the league's premier team. Under former head coach Kathy Riley, who retired following the 2020 season, the Lancers won five of seven Big South titles, in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Longwood's five Big South championships are the third most in league history and the most by any team in a seven-year span. Only Coastal Carolina (1992-2012) and Winthrop (1987-present) have won more, with six titles apiece.
The Lancers have won two of the last four Big South regular-season titles under fifth-year head coach
Dr. Megan Brown.
LONGWOOD IN NCAA REGIONALS
Longwood has advanced to five NCAA Division I regionals and reached the regional final in 2016 and 2017. The Lancers played in the NCAA postseason in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, tying former member Coastal Carolina for the most regional appearances in Big South history.
Longwood is 5-10 overall in NCAA Division I regional play, securing the most NCAA postseason wins by any Big South softball team. The Lancers played to a 2-4 record in a pair of NCAA Division II regionals in 2002 and 2003.
