Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Freshman Justina Augustine/Warrenton went 2-for-2 at the plate with a sacrifice fly and a RBI to help the Longwood University softball team earn a 3-0 victory against Big South Conference and in-state rival Liberty University (4-25, 0-6) on Thursday evening in Farmville. With the win, the Lancers swept the regular-season series against the Flames. Junior Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, Calif. and sophomore Jamie Barbour/Amelia each hit .667 (2-3) on the day, while junior Megan Baltzell/Stafford logged her fourth home run of the season for two RBI. Junior pitcher Libby Morris/Dillwyn, who sat down 12 consecutive Liberty hitters between the second and fifth innings, allowed just four hits, while striking out four in the complete-game performance. Longwood (18-6, 7-1) will travel to Clinton, S.C. to take on Big South opponent Presbyterian College in a three-game weekend series on March 29-30.

"We were really happy to come out and get the win today," said head coach Kathy Riley. "You don't ever know when you actually throw that first pitch what kind of game you're going to play or which way the ball is going to bounce. One of our goals today was to be motivated to play as hard as we could from the start. We could have hit the ball harder, yes, but I think we battled hard all day, not only on offense, but also on defense when they had runners on. We also had very good pitching and catching today, which has kind of been a constant for us. You're always going to be in games with good pitching and catching, so we're thrilled with that. We're looking forward to going on the road to Presbyterian and getting a little bit better."

Liberty put a pair of runners on base with no outs in its first trip to the plate, threatening to take an early lead, but Morris snagged a line drive back at her and threw on to first for a double play before sophomore Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (1-2, 1 run) cleanly fielded a ground ball to get out of the inning. Longwood stranded Murphy on third in the home half of the first, and both sides went three-up and three-down in the second. In the bottom of the third, Augustine battled in a 10+ pitch at-bat to before logging the squad's first hit of the day with a single up the middle. Junior Casey Lifsey/Portsmouth (1-2) followed with a base hit to third and Baltzell drew a walk to load the bases, but the Flames were able to end the opportunity with a groundout.

Morris made it nine consecutive Liberty batters retired in the fourth, allowing the Lancers to break the game open in the home half of the inning. Shinrock and Barbour both notched base hits, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by senior Amy Putnam/Poquoson (0-2). Shinrock later scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Augustine, giving Longwood a slight, 1-0 edge. The Lancers then extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth, as Murphy led off with a double down the left field line and Baltzell followed with a home run to left center. In the top of the sixth, Morris' streak of 12-straight Flames retired was ended with back-to-back bunt singles from Annah Jo Brittingham and Blair Lawrence, but a pair of groundouts and a strikeout extinguished the scoring opportunity. Although three Lancers were left on in the bottom of the sixth and Liberty logged one hit in the seventh, Longwood held on to secure the 3-0 shutout win.