Longwood Drops NCAA Regional Opener to Tennessee, 5-0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – All-SEC second team pitcher Matty Moss spun a gem for the 2017 NCAA Knoxville Regional host Tennessee as she tossed a complete game shutout striking out 10 Lancer hitters in a 5-0 opening round win Friday night from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium in a nationally-broadcasted affair.
Tennessee (45-10) got things going early as the first three hitters all collected hits for a quick 2-0 lead after one inning before another two-run fourth inning made it 4-0. In the two-run fourth, SEC Player of the Year Meghan Gregg smacked her team-leading 12th home run of the season, a solo shot off Longwood (28-28) senior southpaw Elizabeth McCarthy (14-10).
Gregg's solo home run was her second RBI hit of the day after a single in the first brought in the Volunteers' second run of the night.
Moss (24-2) picked up her 24th win of the season while pushing her strikeout total to 176 in 172.2 innings of work. Longwood sophomore outfielder Jordan Clark broke up Moss' no-hit bid with a one-out single to right center, but that was about all the Lancers could manage against the sophomore flamethrower.
Clark's fourth inning single was the lone hit on the afternoon for a Longwood offense that had scored three or more runs in all five of their Big South Tournament games last week in Farmville.
McCarthy went 4.0 innings against the No. 8 Volunteers allowing four runs, all earned, while striking out two. Sophomore co-ace Sydney Gay came on in relief for McCarthy finishing the contest in the circle surrendering one run on one hit, a solo home run by Brooke Vines in the sixth, and striking out one in 2.0 innings.
With the loss, the Lancers will take on second-seeded Ohio State in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. with the winner staying alive for a second game at 5 p.m. immediately following the first elimination contest.