CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Longwood softball team opened the 2026 season falling 4-0 to Pittsburgh and 9-0 in five innings to Southeastern Louisiana in the 23rd NFCA DI Leadoff Classic Presented by MaxBP at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Friday.
In the first game of the day, Longwood hung with the Panthers (2-0), trailing just 1-0 through five-and-a-half innings before the ACC team scored three times in bottom of the seventh on four errors.
Maggie Chapin (0-1) went the distance, giving up four hits, four runs and two walks while striking out eight.
Freshman center fielder Ava Abromavage went 2-for-3 with a triple out of the leadoff spot in the lineup to pace the Longwood offense. Sophia Knock was 1-for-2 with a two-out single in the seventh and a walk, as well.
Pittsburgh got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Addison Oberbreckling doubled to center field with two out, scoring Mackenzie Reese, who singled to left with one gone.
The Lancers mounted a threat in the top of the sixth as Abromavage laced triple to gap in right center field, but Gwen Sparks (1-0) retired the next two batters of the frame in order to keep the lead.
The Knock base hit was sandwiched by Sparks strikeouts of Maggie Hiatt and Bailey Bucholz in the seventh.Â
The Panthers' right-hander allowed just the three hits and a pair of walks wile fanning six on the day.
In the nightcap, Southeastern Louisiana scored two runs in the second, five in the third and two more in the fourth to end the game after five innings.Â
The Lions posted 11 hits off of Morgan Strickland (0-1) and Cierra Gawryluk, including five that went for extra bases. Leadoff hitter Shelby Morris was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and two driven in, while right fielder Ka'Lyn Watson blasted a two-run homer to right-center field in the fourth.
Brooke Masingale broke up the Southeastern (1-2) no-hit bit with a hot shot to shortstop off of Bre Clark, who relieved Cera Blanchard (1-0) after four hitless innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Longwood faces Michigan State at noon and Notre Dame at 6 p.m., on Saturday.
