LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Longwood softball team dropped a pair of games on the first day of the Cardinal Classic at Ulmer Stadium, falling 9-1 to Northwestern and 8-0 to Louisville, both in five innings.

Northwestern collected five extra-base hits, including three doubles and two home runs, improving to 7-9 overall while Louisville also connected for two homers, helping it move to 13-5 on the year.

Crestwood, Ky., native Brooke Bennett paced the Lancers going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in the two games.

In the opener, the Wildcats jumped on Longwood starter Maggie Chapin (3-4) for three runs, all with two out in the first, highlighted by a two-run homer by Kansas Robinson to right field and an Izzy Cunnea RBI single to the gap in left center.

The Lancers got on the scoreboard in the third when Bennett doubled to left to plate Sarah Terrell, but was out trying for more. Terrell started the inning with a single and moved to second on a Sophia Pisacano sacrifice bunt.

Northwestern added two more runs in its half of the third and loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Cunnea and Emma Raye each hit two-run doubles off of reliever Morgan Strickland to end the game.

Chapin allowed six hits and eight earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, taking the loss.

Louisville then plated four runs in the first inning of that contest, two in the third and two in the fourth.

Ava Venturelli and Char Lorenz hit third-inning homers to extend a four-run lead to 6-0 and the Cardinals plated two more in the bottom of the fourth to account for the final tally.

The Lancers received hits from Bennett, Sophia Knock and Peyton Simmons.

Erin Kirkland (1-1) started and recorded four outs, giving way to Cierra Gawryluk and Mallory Sanders.

The Lancers (5-9) face Central Michigan at 10 a.m., and Northwestern at 3 p.m., on Saturday in day-two action.