FARMVILLE, Va. — The Longwood softball team scored in all six innings and collected a season-high-tying 12 hits to beat Charleston Southern, 8-4, in the finale of its Big South Conference series at Bank of the James Park on Saturday.
Three Lancers posted multiple hits, led by
Avery Jefferson's 3-for-5 outing with two runs scored and an RBI and
Maryanna Guy blasted her sixth home run of the season — a solo shot to left field — to give Longwood a 3-2 lead in the third inning it would not relinquish.
Junior right-hander
Erin Kirkland (2-4) earned the pitching win with 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen, allowing four hits and two unearned runs in relief of
Er'ron Burton.
"Very proud of our response and fight," said Longwood head coach
Dr. Megan Brown. "Lots of work ahead."
Longwood (15-27, 8-7 Big South) jumped on Charleston Southern starter Riley Lauffer for a run and the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jefferson came around from first base on a
Brooke Bennett triple to the gap in left-center field with one out. Jefferson preceded Bennett with a single up the middle.
The Buccaneers' Carsten Sandvig gave CSU a 2-1 lead as her fly ball to left field carried over the wall for a home run with one out in the top of the second.
Kate Westmiller came up with a two-out RBI single to second base in the bottom of the second to score
Sophia Pisacano, who reached when she was hit by a pitch from Lauffer.
After Guy's homer helped the Lancers regain the lead in the third, Guy,
Avery Miller and Pisacano coaxed bases-loaded walks from Kinsey Clapton (7-8) to extend their advantage to 6-2 in a fourth inning in which nine Longwood players made plate appearances.
Jefferson added a double to left center in the fifth that scored
Avery Drake to push the lead to 7-2.
After Charleston Southern (18-26, 7-8) pulled two runs back in the sixth, pinch runner
Bailey Bucholz scored on a Westmiller fielder's choice to shortstop for the final margin.
Maggie Hiatt's line-drive double hit the third-base bag to put a runner on second. A Pisacano walk and
Naleya Bridges single loaded the bases for Westmiller.
Clopton took the loss for the Bucs, going two innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits.
The Longwood is back in action in a Tuesday doubleheader at Queens. Action gets underway at 3 p.m., on ESPN+.