FARMVILLE, Va. – A walk-off double from catcher Kaylynn Batten and a combined four-hit shutout from Elizabeth McCarthy and Sydney Gay aided the Longwood softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Charleston Southern Friday afternoon at Lancer Field.

Longwood scored three runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a walk-off double from Batten to lift the Lancers to a 3-2 win in game one of the afternoon. That preceded a dominant combined four-hit shutout from Gay and McCarthy en route to a 2-0 win in game two.

"We only have nine conference games left in the season coming into today, and we realize that we have to play good softball to get into the conference tournament since we're playing teams ahead of us," said Longwood head coach Kathy Riley. "We're looking right now at making it into the conference tournament and hopefully we can catch lightning in a bottle and go on a run."

Batten's walk-off double capped Longwood's first come-from-behind win of the season when trailing after six innings, as the Lancers sent eight batters to the plate. Justina Augustine notched an RBI single to shortstop which brought home Haleigh Kilby.  Batten ripped the first pitch she saw from Charleston Southern pitcher Holly Clark. Just out of the reach of Buccaneer right fielder Jade Gandara, Augustine scored  and lifted Longwood to a 3-2 win.

"It was nice to see some things fall our way a little bit today," Riley said. "A couple of small things happened for us to give some people opportunities, but for Bug [Batten] to get that hit was big for our confidence."

Longwood took the momentum from game one and rode the arm of Gay, who pitched six strong innings to pick up the win, before McCarthy came on in relief to pitch a perfect seventh inning to pick up her first save of the season.

Jordan Clark led the Lancers offensively with a combined three hits throughout Friday's doubleheader, while Augustine and Batten recorded a pair of hits throughout.

The Longwood pitching staff was impressive throughout the afternoon, limiting the nation's third-ranked slugging offense to one home run and just two runs on 10 hits throughout the games. Gay earned the start in both games Friday, throwing nine innings and giving up no runs on six hits and a pair of walks. The sophomore right-hander also added a pair of strikeouts.

McCarthy added a win and a save to her illustrious Longwood resume, tossing a total of 2.2 innings in the two games and allowing just a pair of hits. Sydney Mundell also pitched 2.1 innings in the opening game, giving up two runs on a pair of hits.

Already a member of the top-10 in career strikeouts in Big South history and the lone Lancer to eclipse the 600-strikeout mark, McCarthy earned her 68th career win to move two wins shy of moving into the top 10 in Big South history of joining 10th-place Erin Chandler.

Longwood will go for the series sweep over the Buccaneers Saturday, as first pitch for the game has been pushed up to 11 a.m., due to anticipated inclement weather. Saturday's game will also mark the final home regular season contest for Augustine, McCarthy and Jenna Carnes.

"Justina, Biz and Jenna have accomplished so much in their four years at Longwood," Riley said. "It'll be a special day tomorrow with their families here and hopefully we're able to celebrate with a win."



Longwood 3, Charleston Southern 2

A three-run seventh inning capped by an RBI double off the bat of sophomore catcher Kaylynn Batten led the Longwood softball team to a 3-2 come-from-behind win to open its series against Charleston Southern.

The RBI double off the bat of the Kenly, N.C., native helped the Lancers to their first come-from-behind win of the season when trailing after six innings. In the frame, eight Lancers stepped into the batter's box and Longwood had four of its six hits in the contest.

In that three-run sixth, Haleigh Kilby, who recorded a pinch-hit RBI, was able to stay alive in the box with a pinch-hit RBI single to score pinch-runner Leanna Toler, who came on to run after Karleigh Donovan notched a single. Justina Augustine followed Kilby with an infield single to clear the stage for Batten with runners on the corners and two out. The sophomore delivered on the first pitch she saw with a ball just out of the reach of Charleston Southern right fielder Jade Gandara to lead Longwood to a 3-2 win.

Elizabeth McCarthy (7-8) earned the win, coming on in relief in the fifth inning and throwing 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and a walk. She was one of three different Longwood pitchers to appear in the game, as Sydney Gay earned the start and went tossed three scoreless innings. Gay was relieved by Sydney Mundell to start the fourth, as the Valencia, Calif., product tossed 2.1 innings of two run, two hit ball.

2016 Big South Preseason Pitcher of the Year Cheyenne Gandara got the start in the circle for the Buccaneers and threw three scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Holly
Clark (7-10) took the loss, going 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on six hits.

Charleston Southern speedster Amanda Matsumote had a game-high three hits, as she had three of the five Buccaneer hits in the ball game.



Longwood 2, Charleston Southern 0

Longwood drew a trio of walks and Jordan Clark reached on a fielder's choice in a first inning where Longwood scored a run and sent seven batters to the plate, before Sydney Gay and Elizabeth McCarthy combined for a four-hit shutout in a 2-0 win in the nightcap.

The combination of Longwood's co-aces was strong in the circle, as the pair allowed five base runners throughout. Gay, who went allowed three hits and a walk in six innings, threw 88 pitches, 60 for strikes, while striking out six Charleston Southern batters. Meanwhile, McCarthy relieved Gay in the seventh and picked up her first save of the season, giving up a two out single.

Jordan Clark led the Lancers at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, as six different Lancers combined for seven hits against Charleston Southern pitching.

Arizona Pilgrim (6-10) went the distance in the circle for Charleston Southern while taking the loss. She gave up two runs on seven hits and three walks, while throwing 108 pitches, 69 for strikes.

Longwood added to its lead in the fifth inning, as Karleigh Donovan notched a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Batten on the play.

Charleston Southern was led offensively by a 2-for-3 performance from Jade Gandara.

#GoWood