GREENVILLE, N.C. – It didn't take long for Megan Baltzell to live up to the five preseason accolades she garnered prior to Friday's start of the 2015 softball season at the Pirate Classic hosted by East Carolina.

Baltzell hit a pair of home runs to go along with four RBI, as Longwood (1-1) split a pair of games against Delaware State and South Carolina. Baltzell climbed to within five homers of overtaking Brooke Short as Longwood's all-time leader in career home runs.

The Lancers also received a big boost from Casey Lifsey, who posted 3-for-3 performance against Delaware St., in Longwood's 9-0 victory.

Longwood 9, Delaware St. 0 (6 innings)

Six players recorded a hit, as Longwood posted a solid overall team effort to open the 2015 season with a 9-0 shutout victory Friday morning over Delaware State (0-1).
"In our first game, we had an all-around team effort," said head coach Kathy Riley. "Casey Lifsey really gave us a big lift with three hits and I thought we attacked well."

Baltzell recorded three RBI to go along with three runs scored, including her first home run of the season. Casey Lifsey finished 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored in a game that saw a total of six Lancers record a hit.

Libby Morris (1-0) was stellar in the circle to earn her first victory of the season. The senior collected five strikeouts, while allowing four hits and one walk to record her 52nd career victory, as well as her 52nd career shutout.

"I thought Libby pitched well for us and that gave us a lift," Riley said.

The Lancers were able to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from Carly Adams that scored Baltzell, before Krista Kelly scored the first run of her
Longwood career off a stolen base in the second inning to extend Longwood's lead.

Lifsey added to the Longwood lead later in the second inning with her first home run of the season.  Chelsea Sciacca would also add a home run in the bottom half of the third inning, before Baltzell hit a three-run blast in the bottom of the sixth.

Tara Tursellino (0-1) took the loss for Delaware State, tossing 5.0 while permitting nine runs and seven earned runs. 

South Carolina 3, Longwood 1

In the second game of the doubleheader, Longwood faced its first 2014 NCAA Tournament participant in South Carolina. The Gamecocks – who received votes in the preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll – scored three runs in the first two innings en route to a 3-1 victory.

"I thought we played well again against South Carolina, but their left fielder made a couple of big plays to help them," Riley said. "The biggest difference was that we walked five of their girls."

The Gamecocks took advantage of three first inning walks from Elizabeth McCarthy to score two runs. South Carolina's Victoria Williams was able to draw a bases loaded walk to force home Alayna Page in the first run of the afternoon, before Lauren Masters followed with a sacrifice fly to score Ansley Ard.

The Gamecocks added to their lead in the second inning, as Page hit a solo shot to increase the lead to 3-0.

Baltzell answered for the Lancers in the top half of the third with a solo home run of her own to narrow the lead to 2-1.

Julie Sarratt (1-0) had two strikeouts to earn the win for South Carolina with four innings of work, allowing one earned run on one hit and allowing one walk. Nickie Blue picked up the save.

Elizabeth McCarthy (0-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits and five walks in six innings. She struck out seven.

Longwood returns to action for day two of the Pirate Classic Saturday with a pair of games. The Lancers will face Oakland at 11:30 a.m., before squaring off against host East Carolina at 7 p.m.

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