The Lancers (11-9, 1-2) were unable to take advantage of a series-opening 5-2 win Friday afternoon, dropping the next two games and the series 7-2 and 11-2 to No. 22 Coastal Carolina (13-8, 2-1).
The threat of weather moved Longwood’s weekend series with the Chanticleers to a double header on Friday, followed by a Saturday morning finale from Charles ‘Buddy’ Bolding Stadium.
"I thought we did a really good job in game one and I was pleased with our effort in all aspects of the game," said head coach Ryan Mau on the Longwood athletics official website.
A strong start from senior captain pitcher Travis Burnette and timely hitting propelled the Lancers to their first conference win of the season; it was also the third all-time win over a ranked Division I team since the Lancers joined the Big South Conference in 2013.
Senior outfielder Colton Konvicka delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning to give Longwood a lead they wouldn’t surrender the rest of the contest. Konvicka was one of three Lancers to pick up multiple hits in the double header, the other two being junior outfielder Drew Kitson and freshman catcher Carlos Garrido.
Burnette struck out a season-high eight batters and spread out seven hits over 5.2 innings of work to earn his third consecutive win of the season, while also lowering his ERA to 2.38.
"I like the tone that we set with Travis Burnette on the mound, he was outstanding," Mau said. "Michael Catlin came in and did his job on the mound and Ryan Jones grabbing the hardest out to get, which is the last out in baseball, was a great job by him."
The second game of the double header got off to a quick start as senior third baseman Zach Remillard hit his Big South-leading eighth home run, a two-run shot in the top of the first. Remillard’s home run was the first of five extra base hits that the Chanticleers used to take the nightcap 7-2.
Longwood was able to bring it to a 4-2 contest entering the ninth frame, but a solo home run from Big South Preseason player of the year Michael Paez, followed by a two-run passed ball helped the Chanticleers create enough separation.
"I thought (Farkas) did a great job competing and he gave us a chance to stay in the game," Mau said on the start from freshman pitcher Steven Farkas. "He's really doing an excellent job in that role as a freshman."
Farkas went 5.2 innings allowing four runs, three earned in his first loss of the season after receiving no-decisions in each of his first two collegiate starts.
In game three of the series, Coastal Carolina used a nine-run second inning to overcome a one-run deficit and blow the game wide-open. In the top of the second, the Chanticleers had only three hits, but used four walks, one error and one hit batter to push across their nine runs.
"We gave them too many free passes in that second inning," Mau said after the loss. "After that inning it made things very difficult to overcome."
Starter Luke Simpson took the loss after allowing six runs in 1.0 innings after all six batters he faced in the second inning reached base safely. Junior Tyler Wirsu came in relief and tossed 4.2 innings to keep the Chanticleers at nine runs until the eighth when they added on two more.
"I thought Wirsu did a great job in a difficult situation," Mau said. "He kept us around by not allowing Coastal Carolina to add on to the lead."
Longwood is back in action on Tuesday, March 22 as they play the VCU Rams at The Diamond in Richmond for the second game of a home-and-home series. Following Tuesday, the Lancers welcome defending Big South champs Radford to town for a three-game series starting Thursday, March 24 at 5 p.m.