The Longwood Lancers erupted on the mound and at the plate on Thursday night, downing USC Upstate 4-1 in a pivotal Big South Championship clash that kept their tournament hopes alive.
Jon Howard provided the offensive spark, launching his fourth homer in just six tournament games, a blast that underscored his tie for second in program history with 16 season homers.
On the hill, Brady Hoover delivered five solid innings, surrendering only a single run, while reliever Joe Gomez turned in a career‑high 3.2 innings of shutout baseball, striking out five batters and preserving the lead.
Looking Ahead to Sunday's Final
The decisive game is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+, where the Lancers aim to cap a historic week with a championship.
What makes the victory even more remarkable is that Longwood has now beaten every opponent in the Big South field at least once, a feat that positions them as the first team to achieve a complete sweep in the tournament’s modern era.