Longwood University’s softball team opened its play in the double-elimination NCAA Knoxville Regional by playing host University of Tennessee on Friday, and the Lancers struggled as the nationally No. 12-ranked Volunteers won 8-0 in six innings.

Kathy Riley, Longwood’s head coach, was clearly frustrated after the game, feeling that Tennessee had not received the Lancers’ best shot.

“I just didn’t think we played well, so it was really difficult to see what we were truly capable of doing,” she said, “because we didn’t play good defense and we didn’t have very good at-bats, so it was really tough to kind of get a feel for what we’re capable of doing.”

She later noted that playing in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee pitchers are forced to elevate their game because they are facing so many talented batters. She added that the Lancers simply have fewer opportunities to face the level of pitching and batting that would better prepare them for what they will face at an NCAA Regional.

Longwood (37-21) was slated to take on the University of North Carolina (35-19) in an elimination game Saturday starting at 2:30 p.m. The Tar Heels lost 1-0 to Ohio State University on Friday.