FARMVILLE, Va. — The Longwood softball team opened the Bank of the James Invitational with run-rule wins over Youngstown State, 10-1, and Mount St. Mary's, 8-0, in five innings on Friday.
Longwood (4-12) scored runs in six of its 10 turns at bat on the day and batted 15-for-38 (.394) as a team in the first two of its six-game weekend.
The Lancers also received complete games from both Maggie Chapin and Morgan Strickland, who combined to give up just four hits and an earned run.
"Very pleased with how we came out today," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "Pleased we stayed with our process. Lots of positives to keep building on as we go through the season. The goal is to get better each game, learn the lessons each game provides and never settle — always building."
Chapin (2-6) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning against Youngstown State before Ashlyn Bishop punched a single into left field.
Longwood sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning against the Penguins, getting RBI doubles from Brooke Bennett and Maggie Hiatt and a two-run single by Bailey Bucholz. Pinch runner Jordyn Hern also scored in the inning when a ball hit by Sophia Knock to third base was thrown away.
Youngstown State pitcher Kelsey Ogin (2-1) did not make it out of the inning, surrendering two hits, two earned and two walks.
Longwood added two runs in the second inning and and three in the third, including sacrifice flies from Hiatt in both frames.
Brooke Masingale went 2-for-3 with a triple, a stolen base and two runs scored. Sarah Terrell scored twice as well from the top spot in the order.
Longwood blasted three homers against Mount St, Mary's in the second game of the day, including two in the third from Bennett and Lauren Faulkner to build a 7-0 lead.
Bucholz took a 1-2 pitch down the line in the left to make it 2-0 in the second with her second career homer. Then, with one out in the third Bennett rode one over the wall in right-center field. The solo shot and her fifth homer of the year pushed the lead to 3-0.
Masingale followed with a double to the left-center field gap and stole third. Hiatt walked and pinch runner Jordyn Hern stole second before Knock doubled home Masingale behind Faulkner's three-run shot to deep center field.
Masingale singled in pinch runner Naleya Bridges in the fourth to put the run rune into effect.
Bennett, Masingale and Knock collected two hits apiece for the Lancers, who posted a season-high 10 as a team
Strickland (1-2) limited the Mount to two hits and struck out one in the win.
Longwood plays Hampton and Penn at 3 and 5:30 p.m., on Saturday.
