CONWAY, S.C. – A four-run first inning sparked by a three-run home run from Annie Robinson led Coastal Carolina past Longwood, 9-2 in the regular season finale for both teams Sunday afternoon at CCU Softball Stadium.

For the Lancers (33-17, 19-5 BSC), it marks just the second time in their four seasons in the league the squad has dropped more than one Big South series, as the squad has won 27-of-32 series since entering the league. In addition, it marked just the second game this season in which Longwood has yielded nine runs.

"Obviously, we're disappointed in the way we played today," said head coach Kathy Riley. "Coastal Carolina outplayed us in too many phases of the game. We have to get our mind right to put ourselves in the best position to play good softball heading into the tournament."

Emily Murphy and Krista Kelly led the Lancers at the plate with a pair of multi-hit games. Murphy belted her 10th home run of the season, giving the senior at least 10 blasts in three of her four seasons at Longwood. It also brings her to within two blasts of becoming the third player in Longwood history with at least 50 home runs.

Coastal Carolina (35-20, 18-6 BSC) was led offensively by a pair of 3-for-4 performances from Bri Chiusano and Taty Forbes while Robinson was 1-of-2 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Elizabeth McCarthy (18-9) took the loss for the Lancers, tossing 2.1 innings and giving up six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out a pair of batters. It marked the most runs given up by the junior southpaw this season.

Sydney Gay came on in relief of McCarthy and tossed 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and three walks.

Kelsey Dominik (17-10) picked up the win, allowing two runs on eight hits in a complete game effort. She added two strikeouts and a pair of walks in the contest.

Coastal Carolina took a 4-0 lead in the opening inning led by their five seniors. Annie Robinson hit her 11th home run of the season which was a three-run shot on a 3-2 offering from McCarthy.

Longwood responded in the third inning, as Jamie Barbour led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. She was brought home two batters later after Murphy drove a pitch to the warning track to center field for a sacrifice fly.

The Chanticleers added to their lead in the third inning, as Cassidy Brzozowski notched a two-RBI double to left field.
Murphy homered for the second straight game with her solo blast in the fifth inning.

Coastal stretched its lead to 9-2 in the sixth inning. Taty Forbes doubled to right center to bring home Angela Buccilli before Mackenzie Conrad grounded to shortstop to bring home Bri Chiusano. Dominik followed with a single laced to left field and bring home the third run of the inning in Forbes.

With the conclusion of the regular season, Longwood will open play in the Big South Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., against the winner of eighth-seeded Gardner-Webb and ninth-seeded Winthrop Wednesday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m. The play-in game between the Eagles and Runnin' Bulldogs is set for Wednesday at 9 a.m.

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