SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year Charlie Carpenter led USC Upstate past the Lancers, 14-2, Friday at Harley Park.
 
Longwood (2-6) jumped out the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but big rallies in the middle innings for USC Upstate (4-5-1) downed Longwood in the first game of the weekend set.
 
"It was a good game early on, but we let their best hitter do big damage tonight," Longwood head coach Ryan Mau said. "We have to be sharper in those situations where the game is in limbo."
 
Steven Farkas (0-3) got off to a hot start on the mound with seven strikeouts in his first 4.0 innings of work, but Farkas was unable to make it out of the fifth inning. The junior left-hander tossed 4.2 innings with four runs allowed, three earned, on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
 
"Unfortunately our bullpen struggled again," Mau said. "We got a very solid start from Farkas and we are in need if several guys to step up for us in the middle innings."
 
Blake Whitney (2-0) picked up the win for USC Upstate with 6.0 innings of two-run ball, both unearned runs, scattering six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.
 
Out of the Lancer bullpen Todd Moxey put together the best outing of his young career. The freshman right-hander spun 1.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts, as many as he'd had in his first two outings.
 
"It was nice to see Todd throw as well as he did," Mau said. "He has really good stuff and once he figures it out consistently he is going to be a reliable arm we can depend on."
 
Offensively, Longwood got a multi-hit game from Sammy Miller, the first of the season for the senior captain as he was 2-for-4 at the dish.
 
Jawan McAllister continued to swing the bat well, going 1-for-3 and upping his season average to a team-high .308. McAllister is 6-for-10 in his last three games with two runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases.
 
Carpenter led the way for USC Upstate with a 5-for-5 day with two doubles, driving in a pair of runs. Carpenter, Kyle Gensler, and Chris Rodriguez combined to go 11-for-15 with five RBI and seven runs scored.
 
The Lancers took advantage of a USC Upstate miscue to jump out to a lead in the fourth. Antwaun Tucker reached on an error with one out, moving to third on a single through the right side by Justin Mitchell. Two batters later with runners on the corners and two outs. Mitchell stole second to set up McAllister with a pair of runners in scoring position. McAllister took advantage with a single to center, bringing in both runners and giving Longwood a 2-0 lead on the two unearned runs.
 
USC Upstate threatened to take the lead in the home half of the fourth, but the Lancers held onto the edge through four. In the home half of the inning after alternating strikeouts and singles for the first four batters of the frame, Kyle Gensler singled to third to load the bases with two outs, the second infield hit of the inning. The next batter, Mason Stewart, walked to force in a run. Farkas maintained the 2-1 edge with his seventh strikeout of the game on a 3-2 pitch, ending the threat.
 
The Spartans took control in the fifth inning. Rodriguez reached on a single to second base to start the home half of the frame. Andres Kim moved Rodriguez into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later with Rodriguez at second base and two outs, Carpenter doubled down the right field line to plate Rodriguez and tie the game. The next batter, Russell Schwertfeger, singled to right and plated Carpenter, giving USC Upstate a 3-2 lead. After a walk and a passed ball, Gensler singled to shortstop to score Schwerfeger, putting the Lancers behind by two.
 
USC Upstate added to the lead with a six-run sixth inning and four more runs in the eighth.
 
Longwood looks to even the series in game two Saturday, featuring junior right-hander Cody Boydstun (0-1, 10.24 ERA) on the mound for Longwood opposite of USC Upstate senior righty Kevin Hickey (0-0, 0.84 ERA). Boydstun is coming off a career-best 7.2 innings pitched and eight strikeouts in his last outing. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Harley Park.
 
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