SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Senior right-hander
Er'ron Burton limited USC Upstate to five hits and one walk and the Longwood softball team scored in each of the first three innings for a 4-0 win, completing a three-game Big South Conference sweep on the road at Cyrill Stadium on Sunday.
Burton (5-4) earned her second complete-game shutout of the weekend and third victory of the week striking out four while issuing just one walk in 97 pitches.
The Longwood offense pounded out nine hits for a national audience on ESPNU, jumping on Upstate starter Sierra Maness (20-7) early for the second consecutive day. The Lancers scored all four runs in the first three innings, including redshirt sophomore
Maryanna Guy powering her 11th home run of the season out to right field on an 0-1 pitch with one out in the third.
Guy finished 1-for-1 with two walks and two RBIs, also plating
Avery Drake with a sacrifice fly to right in the top of the first.
With the win, Longwood (20-28, 11-7) locked up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big South tournament in Clinton, S.C., May 7-10.
"Proud of our ladies for their grit and fight," Longwood head coach
Dr. Megan Brown said. "They have stayed the course of a hard fought season. Lots of work ahead."
Drake added a second-inning double that scored
Sarah Terrell and
Sophia Knock with one out and Burton did the rest.
The righty stranded seven Spartans' runners, only permitting one past second base in the second inning when Amie Johnson moved Abby Polk up after a double.
Drake went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBIs, while
Naleya Bridges stayed hot with two knocks of her own in three at-bats. Bridges led the Lancers, batting .600 with two solo homers and a walk on the weekend.
Brooke Bennett,
Maggie Hiatt, Knock and
Sophia Pisacano also picked up base hits for Longwood on Sunday.
Maness lasted just three innings, surrendering six hits, one walk and four earned runs before giving way to Maddie Drerup, who hurled the final four scoreless frames.
Liza Simmerson hit 2-for-3 with a double to pace the USC Upstate (36-14, 10-8) offense.
Longwood closes the regular season next Sunday with a 1 p.m., doubleheader against Howard. Senior day festivities will take place prior to first pitch.
