Longwood Earns Split of Doubleheader with 6-2, Game 2 Victory Over Liberty
4/6/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Longwood used a four-run fourth inning to down Liberty, 6-2, in game two of a doubleheader, Friday at Lancer Field.
Longwood improves to 23-12 with the win, including 8-3 in Big South play. Conference-leading Liberty (30-9, 10-1) saw its nine-game overall winning streak and program-record 10-game Big South winning streak end. The Flames won the series opener, 3-2, on Friday, securing their third 30-win season in a row.
The Lancers held a slight 6-5 edge in hits, while Longwood committed three errors. Liberty left 11 runners on base, while the hosts stranded four.
Sydney Backstrom (7-4) earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits, walking four and striking out five in the complete-game effort.
Liberty's Elizabeth Engler (6-1) gave up four runs on four hits, with four walks and one strikeout in three innings pitched. Chase Cassady tossed three innings of relief, yielding two runs on two hits, striking out four and walking one.
Longwood's Kaylynn Batten hit 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI. Destiny Martinez scored twice, while Jenna Dunn went 1-for-2 with a homer, three RBI and one run scored.
Autumn Bishop went 2-for-2 with one run scored, extending her hitting streak to 20 games while adding a double to her national-leading total, which now sits at 18. Alexia Taylor went 1-for-4 with two RBI, while Deidra See and Amber Bishop added singles for Liberty. ?????
Autumn Bishop quickly extended her hitting streak, dropping a leadoff single into center field to open the game. Backstrom then retired the next three batters.
Martinez drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first and stole second. Batten plated her with a single up the middle, making it 1-0, Lancers. Engler retired the next two batters.
Liberty went ahead in the third. Pinch-hitter Alexis Erich and Autumn Bishop drew back-to-back walks with one out. Amber Bishop singled to left, loading the bases. Taylor dropped a two-run single into the gap in left center. After Taylor stole second, Sarah Robertson reached on an error, filling the bases again. Backstrom escaped further damage, getting a fielder's choice and a groundout to keep the score at 2-1.
Martinez bunted for a hit and swiped second base with one out in the bottom of the third. Batten walked and Karleigh Donovan slashed a game-tying RBI single to center. Krista Kelly lined into an inning-ending double play, sending the game to the fourth tied, 2-2.
See's one-out single in the top of the fourth set the table for a Liberty rally. Autumn Bishop doubled inside the first-base bag with two outs. Backstrom walked Amber Bishop to load the bases. Taylor bounced out to first, ending the rally.
Kasey Carr walked to start the bottom of the fourth and Jessica Smith then singled to right. Cassady then came on in relief of Engler. Dunn greeted her with a three-run homer to left center. Jordan Clark struck out but reached first on a dropped third strike. Batten drove a two-out RBI triple to right center, making it 6-2. Cassady fanned Donovan, bringing Longwood's four-run inning to a close.
Robertson walked and Jaclyn Amader reached on an error at the start of the fifth. Backstrom retired the next three batters to maintain the Lancers' four-run lead.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Autumn Bishop was hit by a pitch. Amber Bishop grounded into a fielder's choice and Alexia Taylor flied out to left, ending Liberty's sixth time at bat.
Cassady pitched to three batters in both the fifth and sixth innings, keeping Liberty within striking distance.
Amader reached on a two-base error with one out in the top of the seventh, giving Liberty life. Backstrom finished off the complete game, as Hoffman grounded out and Via flied out.
Liberty and Longwood wrap up this weekend's series on Sunday with a matchup that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Sunday's contest is set for a 5 p.m. start time at Lancer Field.
