COLUMBIA, S.C. – A complete game shutout for South Carolina pitcher Nickie Blue lifted the Gamecocks to a 2-0 win over Longwood Sunday afternoon, as the Lancers conclude play in the Carolina Classic hosted by South Carolina.

"We played good, solid softball today and just needed to capitalize on our opportunities," said head coach Kathy Riley.

Blue (3-1) allowed eight hits and two walks, while striking out six Longwood batters in the game. She threw 121 pitches and 74 for strikes. She and the South Carolina defense left 10 Longwood runners stranded on base throughout the game.

Earning her fourth straight start to open the season, junior Elizabeth McCarthy (1-2) took the loss for the Lancers. McCarthy went 4.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks and three hit batters. The Dunnsville, Va., product added one strikeout to her credit to give her 16 for the three-day tournament.

Freshman Sydney Gay, who picked up her first career win Saturday against Winthrop, came on in the fifth inning. She worked 1.2 innings, giving up no runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two batters.

The Gamecocks recorded six hits with Kennedy Clark recording a pair of singles and both of South Carolina's RBI in the game.

Behind its solid pitching, the Longwood (2-2) defense gave up just six runs in four games throughout the three-day tournament. The two runs against the Gamecocks mark a season-low for South Carolina in the young season. McCarthy, the ace of the Longwood pitching staff, pitched 18.1 innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on 12 hits and six walks while notching 16 strikeouts.

"The best thing that happened this weekend is our comfort level and confidence increased with each game," Riley said.

The Lancers were able to load the bases on two occasions against Blue and had a runner advance to third base in five of the seven innings.

At the plate, seniors Emily Murphy and Jamie Barbour, as well as freshman Kaylynn Batten each notched a two-hit day. Batten and Barbour recorded a pair of doubles, marking Longwood's two extra base hits for the afternoon.

South Carolina (7-1) opened the scoring in the bottom of the opening inning, as Clark belted a single down the left field line. The ball was misplayed by Karleigh Donovan, as Kenzi Maguire scored from first after the fielding error from Donovan.

Longwood had a chance to tie in the fifth inning, as Barbour led off the inning with a double. After Kilby laid down a sacrifice bunt, Barbour moved up to third base but would be stranded their after Blue was able to work out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Alaynie Page led off the South Carolina fifth with a hit by pitch and after McCarthy got Maguire to strike out swinging and Page stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error McCarthy was lifted from the game. Gay came on, as Clark extended the South Carolina lead with a RBI single through the right side.

Longwood loaded the bases in each of its final two trips to the plate. The Lancers loaded the bases in the sixth with just one out before Donovan hit into an inning-ending double play. The Lancers again loaded the bases with two out in the final inning looking to extend the game, before Augustine grounded out to second base.

Longwood opens Lancer Field Feb. 26-28, where it will host Hartford and Monmouth in the Longwood Spring Fling. The Lancers will face Hartford Friday at 5:30, before squaring off against both teams Saturday and Sunday.

"We're already looking forward to next weekend," Riley said.

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