LYNCHBURG, Va. – A dominant performance from senior ace Sydney Backstrom in an extra-inning win over East Carolina highlighted Longwood's doubleheader split on day two at the Liberty Softball Classic as the Lancers took down the Pirates 2-1 in eight innings in game one and fell 19-3 to Atlantic Sun powerhouse Liberty in game two Saturday at Kamphuis Field.
 
In Saturday afternoon's opener, Backstrom stole the spotlight and held it for all eight innings as the Lancers (3-10) rallied from a 1-0 deficit to overcome East Carolina 2-1 in extra innings. In her fourth complete game of the season, Backstrom recorded every out of the extra-inning affair while holding East Carolina (9-3) to just five hits, striking out seven, and shutting out the Pirates over the final seven frames.
 
The All-Big South right-hander Backstrom kept the Lancers in the game long enough for junior Mason Basdikis to tie the score 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth and graduate student Destiny Martinez to win the game with a game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth. The victory snapped a four-game winning streak for the Pirates.
 
"I'm so proud of the fighting and grit we showed today," said Longwood first-year head coach Dr. Megan Brown. "We emptied our bench against East Carolina, and it was truly a team win."
 
However, with Backstrom sidelined after her 111-pitch effort in Saturday's opener, Liberty's Atlantic Sun-leading offense took advantage and drove in 19 runs on 14 hits against Longwood's remaining arms in game two.
 
The Lancers will get another shot at both teams in Sunday's finale at the Liberty Softball Classic, beginning with a 10 a.m. rematch against East Carolina and concluding with a 12:30 p.m. finale against Liberty.
 
Game One: Backstrom's Marathon Complete Game Lifts Longwood to 2-1 Win Over East Carolina
 
Playing extra innings for the first time in 2021, Longwood rewarded senior ace Sydney Backstrom for a masterful performance in the circle with a game-winning sacrifice fly from Destiny Martinez to take down East Carolina 2-1 in a comeback win Saturday afternoon at Kamphuis Field.
 
Backstrom went the distance and then some, limiting East Carolina's high-powered offense to just five hits and a run during her 8.0 innings of work before Martinez's sacrifice fly sent in sophomore Kelly Park to end the game in the bottom of the eighth.
 
It was the fourth complete game of the season for Backstrom, who showcased her All-Big South arm by striking out seven and shutting out the Pirates over the game's final seven frames. She buckled down in a pair of high-pressure situations at the end of the game, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth with a strikeout, and stranding another runner on third in the top of the eighth with another punchout.
 
With Backstrom dialed in, Longwood's offense went to work chipping away at East Carolina's early 1-0 lead and finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when junior Mason Basdikis drove in freshman Lauren Fox with a game-tying RBI single. That was one of three knocks on the day from Basdikis, who extended her hitting streak to four games out of Longwood's leadoff spot.
 
The score remained deadlocked after the seventh, sending the Lancers to extra innings where Backstrom tossed a scoreless top of the frame before Longwood began its' game-winning rally in the bottom half of the inning. That run came once again via small ball, as Longwood took advantage of a leadoff error that put Kelly Park on first and moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt from Leah Powell. Back-to-back walks pushed Park to third and loaded the bases, setting the stage for Martinez' sacrifice fly, which she drove to left field just deep enough for Park to score with a feet-first slide.
 
The win snapped a four-game winning streak for the Pirates and avenged East Carolina's 9-2 win over Longwood in Friday's opener at the Liberty Softball Classic. Longwood will continue its five-game slate at the Liberty Softball Classic Saturday afternoon with a 3 p.m. meeting against Liberty. Sunday will pit the Lancers against both East Carolina and Liberty in another doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.
 
Game Two: Liberty's High-Powered Offense Erupts to Down Longwood 19-3 in Nightcap
 
After ace Sydney Backstrom fired 111 pitches to carry Longwood to a 2-1 extra-inning win over East Carolina in game one Saturday, Atlantic Sun preseason favorite Liberty took advantage of Longwood's depleted pitching staff and cruised to a 19-3 win in Saturday's nightcap.
 
The Flames (12-5) entered the day leading the Atlantic Sun in nearly every offensive category, including runs, hits and home runs, and showcased that offensive firepower with 14 hits a pair of four-RBI days from center fielder Kara Canetto and infielder Devyn Howard.
 
Longwood used all four of its remaining arms but none had an answer for a Liberty offense that got hits from eight of its nine starters, including a 3-for-3 performance from catcher Caroline Hudson and a 3-for-4 performance from Howard. Leadoff batter Autumn Bishop scored three times and reached base safely in all three plate appearances.
 
That effort spotted Liberty starter McKenzie Wagoner (2-1) an early 11-0 lead, which she rode to a 5.0-inning complete game. Wagoner struck out eight and scattered five hits, surrendering her lone runs on a Lauren Taylor RBI single in the top of the third, and an RBI walk by Alexis Wayland an bases-loaded hit-by-pitch by Madison Blair in the fifth.
 
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