FARMVILLE, Va. — Senior right-hander Morgan Strickland fired a complete-game, striking out a career-high eight, as the Longwood softball team nipped Norfolk State, 4-3, Tuesday at Bank of the James Park.
Strickland improved to 4-7 on the season, scattering four hits and three earned runs with one walk, using 114 pitches in her third complete game of the season.
Longwood (19-25) scored first for the sixth consecutive game, but had to battle back from two separate deficits to complete a season-series sweep of Norfolk State (18-14), giving Dr. Megan Brown her 150th career win as a head coach — all at Longwood.
"I'm pleased with the fight and the grit," Brown said. "We've had a couple games of late where we really had to fight and be gritty. We had to score late. We had to hold teams. Earlier in the year, we weren't winning close games. We weren't being able to hold teams late.
"So, very pleased to see that growth," she continued. "It's the time of year where you're going to have to win some one-run ball games. So, very pleased to see us settle, handle our business, execute small things, move runners when we need to and take advantage of bases when we have the opportunity."
After Strickland struck out the side in the first inning, the Lancers broke on top in the second. Maggie Hiatt began the inning with a single to left field, advancing when an errant pickoff attempt from the catcher hit Hiatt. Then, with two out, back-to-back base hits by Sarah Terrell and Sophia Pisacano scored Hiatt.
The Spartans responded with two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Kachelle Refour singled to left with one out and Qween Edmonds' sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. Strickland then hit Kailey Bryant with a pitch, putting runners on first and second, before Maddie Morris singled to right field to plate both Bryant and Refour. Right fielder Kate Westmiller fired the ball in to second to retire Morris trying to stretch the play into a double.
Sophia Knock gave the lead right back to Longwood in the bottom of the third with her sixth home run of the season to right-center field — a two-run shot — off of NSU's Amaya McPherson (1-2) for a 3-2 game.
Morris hit a homer of her own to left field, leading off the sixth for the Spartans, to knot the game, 3-3.
Longwood again responded in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead. Ava Abromavage walked, stole second and advanced to third on a Terrell grounder to shortstop. Then, Pisacano hit a roller to second base and Abromavage beat the throw home with a slide for a 4-3 advantage.
Strickland worked around a two-out single from Refour, shutting the door with a strikeout of Edmonds to seal the win.
"Morgan threw well," Brown said. "We had a conversation with her after the game. I was like, 'You weren't winning those games earlier.' She said, 'No, I feel like I'm really starting to kind of find my footing there.' So, very pleased with that."
Knock finished 2-for-4 with the homer and two RBIs while Pisacano also was 1-for-2 with two runs driven in. Terrell was 2-for–3, as well.
Brown gave credit to her players following the game for helping her reach the career milestone.
"Very humble. Very grateful," she said. "The young women between the lines are the ones that do it. So, grateful for them."
The Lancers jump back into Big South play starting a three-game series with Radford. First pitch of Friday's single game is set for 6 p.m., on ESPN+.
