FARMVILLE, Va. – Sydney Backstrom tossed her first career no-hitter in a Longwood run-rule win in game one of the series against Hampton, before the Pirates took advantage of five Longwood errors in the nightcap Tuesday night at Lancer Field.

Backstrom tossed Longwood's first no-hitter since Elizabeth McCarthy during the 2017 season in a 8-0 win in game one, before Hampton scored five runs on four hits and took advantage of five Longwood errors in taking the nightcap, 5-3.

With the win, along with a pair of USC Upstate losses to Winthrop Monday, Longwood (30-16, 16-4 Big South) finished the day two wins away from securing the No. 1 overall seed in the Big South Championship which begins two weeks from Wednesday night.

The win also hands Longwood its 15th season with at least 30 wins under the direction of 22nd-year head coach Kathy Riley, who has led the Lancers to 30-plus wins in the last seven seasons since joining the Big South.

"It was a tail of two games," Riley said. "The first game we obviously had the no-hitter. In the second game, we came out and made some mistakes early in the first two innings that cost us."

The no-hitter for Backstrom handed the sophomore her fifth win in her last six appearances, including her second complete-game shutout in her last five games. In that stretch, Backstrom has pitched to a 1.09 ERA with opponents batting .148 off her.

Jessica Smith paced eight different Lancers who finished the day with multiple hits, as she collected a pair of two-hit games en route to going 4-for-6 with a double, RBI and a run scored. Sydney Jacobsen, Kasey Carr and Karleigh Donovan each finished with three hits throughout the two games.

The rubber game of the three-game series between the Pirates and Lancers is set for Wednesday, April 24 with a 4 p.m. first pitch in the final game of the 2019 season at Lancer Field.

"Tomorrow is an important game," Riley said. "Every team has bad games but its our job to come out tomorrow and respond to put ourselves in position to make the plays that are necessary."

Longwood 8, Hampton 0 (5)

Sydney Backstrom completed her first career no-hit performance, as Longwood scored eight runs on 12 hits in a 8-0 win over Hampton to begin the series.

Backstrom limited the Pirates to one baserunner in the game, as DaSha Hill drew a two-out walk in the third inning before being thrown out by Kaylynn 'Bug' Batten trying to swipe second.

Backstrom was efficient in the circle, throwing 61 pitches, 40 for strikes while adding five strikeouts in the first no-hitter tossed by a Longwood pitcher since Elizabeth McCarthy tossed the third no-hitter of her Longwood career against Gardner-Webb during the 2017 season en route to helping the Lancers to a third straight Big South Championship.

"She does a great job of changing speeds and changing pitch selection," Riley said. "She was commanding her curveball, screwball, riseball and changeup and did a nice job of locating all four of those pitches."

A product of Huntersville, N.C., Backstrom allowed one ball out of the infield while getting six ground ball outs to collect her fifth win in her last six appearances.

The sophomore righty was aided by 12 Longwood hits scattered, as eight batters collected hits. Donovan led the way with a 3-for-3 day for her 11th multi-hit game of the season, including her second game with at least three hits in her last six games.

Kasey Carr and Jessica Smith each added a pair of two-hit games with an RBI and a run scored while Alexis Wayland went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI's.

"We got some momentum early and put together five good innings," Riley said.

Allyson Babinsack (6-10) took the loss for Hampton, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 12 hits in 3.1 innings, throwing 75 pitches, 52 for strikes.

Hampton 5, Longwood 3

Hampton took advantage of a season-high five Longwood errors in scoring five unearned runs en route to a 5-3 win in the nightcap.

Hill went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, as Hampton scored all five of its runs in the first two innings. Kia Watts added three RBI in the second inning, as Hill and Watts combined for three of four Hampton hits.

Longwood put together a rally in the sixth inning, scoring three runs on an RBI triple from Sydney Jacobsen along with doubles from Madison Blair and Carr while looking for its seventh win of the season when trailing after four innings.

Sydney Gay (10-8) took the loss, allowing five unearned runs in her outing that lasted 5.0 innings and giving up four hits and three walks. Arleigh Wood came on to pitch a scoreless final two innings, retiring six of seven batters faced.

Allie Hotetz (11-9) picked up her 11th win of the year, allowing three runs on 10 hits while striking out three batters. Babinsack picked up her second save of the season, coming on in relief to pitch a scoreless seventh inning.

Jacobsen and Smith led the way for the Lancers at the plate with two hits apiece, as nine players combined for 11 hits.

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