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FARMVILLE, Va. – North Carolina pitcher Kendra Lynch belted a three-run home run to cap a four-run top of the first inning, as the Tar Heels earned a 5-3 win over Longwood Tuesday afternoon at Lancer Field.

On a day when the Lancers unveiled their banners in honor of the 2015 Big South Championship and NCAA Regional appearance, North Carolina (13-11) got off to a quick start by scoring four runs in the first inning and added a run in the second before holding off a Longwood (9-8) rally in the middle and late innings.  

Lynch's three-run blast gave her a four run lead, before stepping into the circle. In the circle, Lynch (11-8) went all seven innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. In addition, she posted four strikeouts and left nine Longwood runners stranded on base.

Lynch was one of three North Carolina batters with a multi-hit afternoon. Berlynne Delamora and Destiny DeBerry also added a pair of hits as the trio combined for six of UNC's nine hits.

For the Lancers, junior Elizabeth McCarthy (5-5) took the loss, giving up a season-high five runs before being pulled in the top of the third inning. The junior lasted 2-plus innings and allowed five runs on five hits and a pair of walks.

"Biz has been sharp for us all year, so it's hard to complain about one outing where she wasn't sharp," head coach Kathy Riley said. "Pitchers are going to miss pitches and have rough outings from time-to-time. I have all the confidence in the world that she'll be able to bounce back this weekend."  

Freshman Sydney Gay came on in relief with a runner on first base in the third inning. She gave up no runs on four hits, while striking out a batter and walking a batter. In addition, she lowered her ERA to a Big South-best 1.97 – the lone pitcher in the league to have a sub-2.00 ERA.

Sophomore Krista Kelly led the Lancers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. She had two of seven Longwood hits on the afternoon.

The Tar Heels attacked early, scoring four runs and sending seven batters to the plate. Lynch had the big hit of the inning, launching an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall to score Delamora and Chandless.

North Carolina added a run in the second, as Aquilla Mateen scored on a sacrifice fly from Chandless.

Longwood, who didn't have a single baserunner with less than two out in any inning, rallied to score two in the third frame courtesy a trio of two-out hits and a North Carolina error. Kelly singled and later came around to score, before Karleigh Donovan later notched a RBI single to left field to bring home Emily Murphy.

"You saw in the third inning that we were able to string together a few hits, get people on base and score a couple runs. Hitting is contagious," Riley said. "We'll be more effective at the plate once we can get two or three players to be a little more comfortable. I think right now, we're just pressing a little too much."

The Lancers scored the game's final run in the fourth inning, recording a pair of two-out hits. Jessica Smith blooped the 10th pitched of her at-bat into left center field and eventually came around to score following Kelly's second single of the day. Longwood had an opportunity to capitalize and draw closer, but a Murphy popup ended the threat and stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.

Longwood concludes a stretch of games where they played eight games against opponents that either made the 2015 NCAA Tournament or are favored to win their conference this season and enter conference play with a 9-8 mark – one game above .500.

Longwood returns to Lancer Field Saturday, March 19 to kickoff Big South play against Campbell. A doubleheader is set for Saturday at 1 p.m., before the finale of the three-game series will be played Sunday.  

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