LAFAYETTE, La. -- The Longwood softball team opens its 45th season this weekend at the 39th Annual Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park in against George Mason, Texas, Seton Hall and the host Ragin' Cajuns.
SHORT HOPS
â–ª The Lancers face No. 1 Texas Friday, marking the fifth time Longwood plays a nationally ranked team on opening day (1-4 record). LU began last season with a 13-0 loss to No. 12/14 Alabama at Georgia Tech's Buzz Classic. Longwood also opened 2022 against No. 12 Georgia, falling, 4-2, but split a doubleheader with the 16th-ranked Bulldogs in the 2021 Georgia Classic, winning the second game, 3-2. LU also fell to No. 1 Michigan, 5-0, to begin the 2006 season at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.
â–ª Longwood was picked second in the 2025 Big South Preseason Poll, earning 37 points and one first-place vote, to sit behind the 2024 regular-season and tournament champion, USC Upstate. Longwood has been chosen to finish in the top-two spots in the poll eight times since joining the conference in 2013, including landing on top five times (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2024).
â–ª The Lancers return 12 players, including all three pitchers, to a team that went 19-33 in 2024. The roster is bolstered by 11 newcomers, eight of whom are true freshmen, and three transfers.
BY THE NUMBERS
10 ▪ Longwood will play 10 teams in the top 56 of the final 2024 RPI, including Women's College World Series finalist No. 1 Texas and super regional qualifier No. 11 Georgia.
2 ▪ The Lancers finished 139th in the final 2024 RPI rankings, ahead of two of this weekend's opponents – Seton Hall (149th) and George Mason (216th).
71 ▪ Longwood played the 71st toughest schedule in 2024 with its opposition amassing a 1,448-1,185-4 record for a .550 winning percentage.
6 ▪ Junior right-hander Maggie Chapin led the Big South and was 24th in the NCAA last season, throwing six shutouts, three of which came in league play.
19 ▪ Longwood has played to a 554-376 (.596) record since becoming Division I eligible for the 2007 season. The Lancers are in their 19th season in Division I in 2025.
KNOCK NAMED PRESEASON BIG SOUTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Junior first baseman Sophia Knock was tabbed Preseason Big South Player of the Year on Jan. 22. Knock had a breakout sophomore season earning All-Big South first team honors in 2024, belting a league-high 10 home runs while batting .326 with 31 RBIs, 46 hits and 24 walks. She was named Co-Big South Player of the Week on Feb. 27 after hitting three homers in a game against Northern Iowa. She added solo shots in the next two games against Brown and Stetson, as well, both Longwood victories.
Knock is the third Longwood player to earn the honor, joining Megan Baltzell in 2014 and 2015 and Bug Batten in 2019.
CHAPIN, GAWRYLUK ALSO PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH
Junior right-handed pitcher Maggie Chapin and sophomore lefty Cierra Gawryluk were named to the preseason all-Big South team, along with Sophia Knock.
Chapin was named to the All-Big South second team last season after pitching to a 14-14 record with a 4.13 ERA in 157 2/3 innings over 36 outings, including 25 starts. She struck out 102, walked 88 and posted 14 complete games (80th in the NCAA), six shutouts (24th nationally) and earned one save.
Gawryluk earned a Big South All-Freshman Team nod in 2024 while being named to the Big South All-Tournament Team. She pitched to a team-best 3.84 ERA over 30 games and 13 starts, going 4-7 overall in 89 1/3 innings with 34 strikeouts.
Gawryluk collected consecutive Big South Freshman of the Week honors on April 22 and 29. The Suffolk, Va., native pitched to a team-best 3.84 ERA over 30 games and 13 starts, going 4-7 overall in 89 1/3 innings with 34 strikeouts, two complete-game shutouts and two saves. She struck out a season-high seven in a 7-5 Big South tournament elimination-game win over Charleston Southern on May 10.
DR. BROWN NAMED TO NFCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Head coach Dr. Megan Brown was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Board of Directors, announced on Oct. 21. Brown, who signed a five-year contract extension in the summer to stay in Farmville through 2029, is serving a three-year term as the organization's Vice President for Education, which began on Jan. 1, and is one of three first-time board members. Brown joins California junior college representative Marian "Speedy" Mendoza of Fullerton College and travel ball representative Suzy Willemssen from Virginia Glory.
GUY BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER
Redshirt sophomore catcher Maryanna Guy, who missed all but four games in 2024 due to injury, is back this season. As a freshman in 2023, she named to the NFCA second team all-region batting batting .313, with five doubles, eight homers and 20 RBIs, a .977 OPS and .615 slugging percentage.
BIG SOUTH DOMINANCE
Since joining the Big South Conference in 2013, Longwood has emerged as the league's premier team. Under former head coach Kathy Riley, who retired following the 2020 season, the Lancers won five of seven Big South titles, in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.Â
Longwood's five Big South championships are the third most in league history and the most by any team in a seven-year span. Only Coastal Carolina (1992-2012) and Winthrop (1987-present) have won more, with six titles apiece.
The Lancers have won two of the last four Big South regular-season titles under fifth-year head coach Dr. Megan Brown.
LONGWOOD IN NCAA REGIONALS
Longwood has advanced to five NCAA Division I regionals and reached the regional final in 2016 and 2017. The Lancers played in the NCAA postseason in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, tying former member Coastal Carolina for the most regional appearances in Big South history.Â
Longwood is 5-10 overall in NCAA Division I regional play, securing the most NCAA postseason wins by any Big South softball team. The Lancers played to a 2-4 record in a pair of NCAA Division II regionals in 2002 and 2003.
