CLINTON, S.C. – After 23 runs combined in the series opener between Longwood and Presbyterian, the two sides settled in for a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel on Saturday afternoon.
 
Guillermo Garcia, Jr. has been a rock every weekend for Longwood (8-23, 3-5 Big South), and he was once again sharp for the Lancers.
 
Unfortunately for Longwood, Presbyterian (16-16, 8-3 Big South) also received an excellent start from Tristan McGregor, and the Blue Hose scraped across a run in the eighth to edge the Lancers 3-2.
 
SCORING:
               R             H            E
LWU      2             6             0
PC          3             6             1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
A day after the two teams combined for 23 runs and more than 30 base hits, Garcia and McGregor were in charge on the mound.
 
Garcia tossed seven innings and only surrendered three hits and three walks that led to two runs, taking a tough-luck no-decision after exiting the game. He struck out six and retired the side in order four times in seven innings.
 
Meanwhile, McGregor gave up two runs in 8.1 innings of work while giving up six hits and a walk that led to one run. He also struck out six.
 
The two matched each other nearly pitch for pitch on the day.
 
The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Bentley Yeatts singled home the opening run, and Carter Newman plated the second on an RBI fielder's choice.
 
From that point on, though, McGregor was able to evade further damage. He faced two more than the minimum over the next six innings before eventually exiting with one out in the ninth.
 
Garcia, meanwhile, kept a potent Presbyterian offense at bay until a two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning by Matthew Rollison tied the game.
 
In the eighth, Amman Dewberry hit an RBI double down the line off of reliever Wyatt Bunch to give Presbyterian the 3-2 lead.
 
The Lancers put the tying run on base in the ninth, but Sean Hollister came on to earn the save for the Blue Hose. It was his second save of the season.
 
McGregor (2-4) earned the win for Presbyterian. Bunch (1-1) took the loss for Longwood.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"From a baseball fan perspective, if you like pitching duels, this was right up your alley," said Longwood Head Coach Ray Noe. "Guillermo was absolutely incredible and kept their hitters off balance all game. Anytime you give up two runs in a start, you give the team a chance to win. Credit to their arm as well. He did a nice job of inducing weak contact and had a few quick innings to allow him to go the majority of the game."
 
"We just have to keep pushing forward, and eventually this thing will turn in our favor," Noe added. "I thought our guys competed all day today, and I was really proud of them for that. We don't have any quit, and that's something we can hold our heads high about."
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Lancers will play the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The game is scheduled to air on ESPN+.
 
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