By Todd Lindenmuth
LongwoodLancers.com

FARMVILLE, Va. – Two seasons ago as a sophomore, Justina Augustine delivered one of the most clutch hits in Longwood softball's 36-year history.

With two outs in the top of the eighth in the 2015 NCAA Knoxville Regional elimination game against Virginia Tech, Augustine ripped a game-winning, two-run triple off the right field wall that sent the Lancers to a 6-4 win over the Hokies.

Augustine's clutch hit will forever be etched in the ever-growing tome of Longwood softball, as it handed the Lancers their first-ever Division I win in the NCAA Tournament in any sport over a Commonwealth and Power Five opponent in the Hokies.

However, for Augustine, it was another chapter of a breakout sophomore season that saw the Warrenton, Va., product hit .298 and bat leadoff for the majority of the season while being named first-team All-Big South.

During that breakout 2015 season, Augustine found a home as Longwood's everyday right fielder after never playing a corner outfield role throughout her career. She has gone on to start the bulk of her games the last three seasons and played a key role on her squad's back-to-back Big South regular season and tournament championships.

"When I first came in, I started as a second baseman before they moved me to center and eventually to right," Augustine said. "It's definitely an adjustment anytime you move positions, but I've really fallen in love with it the past couple years."

Now a senior on the Longwood roster along with two-time Big South Pitcher of the Year Elizabeth McCarthy and right-handed pitcher Jenna Carnes, Augustine looks to be a spark plug for a Longwood offense that's dependent of her being a catalyst.

After spending most of her time the past three seasons in the outfield, Longwood head coach Kathy Riley made the decision to move Augustine back to her natural shortstop position, a move that was made during the Lancers' three-game sweep of Gardner-Webb.

Since that move, Augustine has quickly blossomed into one of the Big South's best shortstops, bringing relying on her strong arm to regularly pick balls out of the hole and make difficult throws look routine. The change also brings stability to a Longwood lineup that has seen four different players man the position in replacing four-time All-Big South selection Emily Murphy.

Longwood has closed out the regular season with a flourish since Augustine's move to shortstop, going 11-5 in those games and closing out the regular season with eight wins in its last nine. Since the move, Augustine's numbers have flourished, recording a .948 fielding percentage in 55 chances.

"The toughest part about moving back to short is having ground balls hit to me in the dirt, it's definitely different and takes some time to readjust," Augustine said.

Playing more games for Longwood than anyone other than former All-American Megan Baltzell and Murphy, Augustine has also relied upon her communication with those around her and her positive attitude at shortstop, serving as a calming presence for the Lancers with her veteran leadership and demeanor.

"All of the seniors are looked up to as leaders, so for me personally on the infield, I can impact the team more by just being more vocal and talking more and getting more ground balls," Augustine said.

In addition to her move back to the middle of the Longwood infield, Augustine has found her name back in the leadoff role – the same role she hit during her breakout 2015 season. She's batted in that role for the final 18 games of the regular season, where she has led Longwood to a 12-6 record and one of the hottest teams heading into this week's Big South Tournament.

None of those games were more impressive than Longwood's season-ending doubleheader at Radford, where she hit two home runs – including a grand slam – to lift Longwood to a three-game sweep over the same Highlander squad the Lancers will face to open their quest for a third consecutive Big South Championship.

"Leading off is a lot different than any other spot in the lineup just because you're looked at to start the offense in the first inning," Augustine said. "It's all about being confident, making contact and getting on base. You're more of in that role of starting the game off right."

Who knows, maybe she'll be able to deliver another clutch hit to add to her Longwood legacy.

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