Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FARMVILLE, Va. – Senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI in the nightcap to lead the Longwood University softball team to a sweep against in-state opponent George Mason University (4-10) in a doubleheader on Tuesday at Lancer Field. The Lancers took a 5-0 decision in game one, paced by junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth with two hits (.667) and one RBI, before pulling out a 4-3 victory against the Patriots in game two. Freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton averaged .600 (3-5) with two runs and one RBI through the pair of contests, while classmate Taylor Hedrick/Fredericksburg hit .500 (2-4) with one run and one RBI on the day. Freshman Elizabeth McCarthy/Dunnsville and junior Libby Morris/Dillwyn each earned a win in the circle for the Lancers with a complete-game effort. McCarthy tied a personal-best with six strikeouts en route to her first-career shutout. Longwood (11-5) will travel to Charleston Southern University to open its Big South Conference slate with a three-game series on Saturday-Sunday, March 15-16.

"First of all, we were fortunate to be able to work out all the logistics to switch the games from Wednesday up to Tuesday and make sure we got them in," said head coach Kathy Riley. "It was nice for us to just come out and get more experience. We're definitely not where we want to be in terms of defense or offense. The pitching has been more steady and something we can hang our hat on a little bit, and I think it'll get even better as the other two areas improve, but right now we just don't have the whole lineup where we need to be. It goes back to giving kids an opportunity to grow into their new roles. Teams are pitching around Megan (Baltzell) this year, so I think we are going to have to do a good job throughout the lineup to force them to pitch to her, as well. Overall, it was good to get two wins and to win at home in front of our own fans."

The Longwood defense was strong from the start in game one, as McCarthy struck out the first batter she faced and Hedrick initiated an inning-ending double play in her first game at second base. In the Lancers first chance at the dish, sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (2-6, 1 run, 1 RBI) led off with a double that landed just inside the left field line, but she was unable to advance further. The defense continued to dominate in the second, aided by a pair of strikeouts from McCarthy. George Mason threatened in the third, using a base hit and back-to-back sacrifice bunts to put a runner on third, but McCarthy notched her fourth strikeout of the day to get out of the inning unscathed. In the home half of the inning, Lifsey got things started with a base hit deep in the hole between second and third, and junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford (2-5, 1 run) drove a two-bagger to the wall in left center, however the squad was unable to capitalize.

The Patriots went three-up and three-down in the top of the fourth, while Longwood left runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth, the Lancers broke the stalemate, walking the bases loaded before junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. (1-5, 1 RBI) sent a chopper to shortstop that was misplayed, scoring two runs. Following a pitching change, Hedrick, Augustine and Lifsey all added RBI base hits to give Longwood a 5-0 advantage. Neither side was able to plate a run in the sixth, and after quickly retiring the Patriots in the seventh with the help of a great diving play by sophomore Carly Adams/Colonial Heights (1-8) at third, the Lancers sealed the 5-0 victory.

George Mason took an early lead in game two, scoring one run in the top of the first on two hits. The Lancers responded in the second inning, though, as sophomore Jaime Barbour/Amelia (2-7, 2 runs) and Augustine singled before Putnam sent a double to left center to score both runners, giving the home squad a 2-1 edge. The sides left one runner on apiece in the third, but Longwood extended its lead to 3-1 in the fourth on a RBI single from Murphy.

In the top of the fifth, the Patriots loaded the bases and scored a pair of runs on a Lancer miscue, knotting the score at 3-3. George Mason threatened to pull ahead in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with just one out. Longwood was able to get out of the inning, however, when Morris threw home for a tag-out and finished with a strikeout. The Lancers carried the momentum into the home half of the inning, as Hedrick was hit by a pitch and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. McCarthy, who was put in to pinch run, moved up on pass ball before scoring what would become the winning run on a RBI single by Putnam to secure the 4-3 decision.