Longwood baseball fell to No. 3-seed USC Upstate 11-8 in a high-scoring opener of the Big South Tournament. Despite aggressive play and a strong rally that tied the game in the sixth inning, the Lancers couldn't hold off Upstate, whose Trey Bentley hit a decisive grand slam. Jon Howard showcased his talents with four hits, while Ben Pulliam led the team with three RBIs and hit a key double. This marked Longwood's first playoff appearance since 2018, ending their season with a 29-26 record.

By the Numbers
  • Longwood tied for their fourth-most hits in a game this season with 13.
  • Jon Howard recorded the team's first four-hit game of the season.
  • Ben Pulliam reached his 20th double of the year, tying for third all-time in program history.
Yes, But

While Longwood showed resilience by staging a comeback in the sixth, their defense faltered, allowing USC Upstate to capitalize on a key error, demonstrating the thin margin between victory and defeat in playoff scenarios.

State of Play
  • Longwood’s season record stands at 29-26 after this playoff loss.
  • The Lancers have shown offensive strength, tying for multiple season-high records in hits and doubles during this game.
What's Next

Longwood is set to face No. 5 Radford in an elimination game in the tournament, with hopes of keeping their postseason aspirations alive.

Bottom Line

The Lancers must leverage their offensive momentum and tighten their defense in upcoming games to avoid early elimination and enhance their chances for a deeper tournament run.