Longwood baseball made headlines last week when a no-hitter helped secure a playoff berth despite the team being only halfway through the regular season. Not to be outdone, the Lions delivered another dominant performance this past week by throwing yet another no-hitter.
This time, Jagger Franco and Adam Szczepanik combined to silence the opposition and continue Longwood’s remarkable undefeated season. Franco was outstanding in his five innings of work, striking out an incredible 13 batters out of the 15 outs he recorded. From the opening pitch, he overpowered hitters with a commanding performance on the mound.
After Franco’s dominant outing, Szczepanik came on in relief and finished the job in style. He struck out four batters over the final two innings, preserving both the victory and the combined no-hitter. Together, the duo gave Longwood another memorable pitching performance in what has already become a special season.
The Lions’ pitching staff has been nearly untouchable all year, and this past week was another example of that excellence. Over 20 innings during the week, Longwood pitchers allowed just one hit total. Even more impressive, in a three-game series against Walt Whitman, the Lions surrendered only one run combined.
That level of consistency on the mound has made Longwood one of the toughest teams to score against anywhere on Long Island. Whether it has been starters going deep into games or relievers closing the door, the Lions continue to receive contributions throughout the staff.
Of course, strong pitching is only part of the story. Longwood has also backed those efforts with timely hitting, solid defense, and the confidence that comes with winning. All of it has helped the Lions race out to a perfect 12-0 record.
Now, the next challenge awaits as Longwood prepares for a three-game series against Patchogue-Medford. The matchup should provide another strong test as the season moves deeper into the schedule.
For now, though, Longwood continues to set the standard with dominant baseball. Two no-hitters in such a short span, an unbeaten record, and a playoff spot already secured have made this one of the most impressive starts in program history.
If the Lions keep playing this way, there may be even more headlines still to come.