CLEARWATER, Fla. — Brooke Masingale hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning against Michigan State and Sophia Knock blasted her first home run of the season in the bottom of the second versus Notre Dame, cutting the Longwood softball team's deficit to 2-1 in each game, but the Lancers dropped both contests at the NFCA DI Leadoff Classic on Saturday.

Longwood fell, 4-1, to Michigan State (2-1) and 7-3 to Notre Dame (2-2). The Lancers complete their weekend at the Eddie C. Moore Complex Sunday at 1 p.m., against Boston College (1-3), which lost to Tennessee and Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, 6-0 and 10-1, respectively.

"Daily growth is what is required," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "I am encouraged but never satisfied with the growth we are seeing. A long way to go but please with the path they are choosing. Proud that they are choosing to do hard things now to accomplish big goals later."

Against the Spartans, senior right-handed pitcher Maggie Chapin collected her first collegiate hit, a fifth-inning double to right field, and posted her second complete game in as many days with eight strikeouts. Lauren Faulkner, Knock and Masingale also had hits for Longwood. 

Masingale's run-scoring base hit to left off of Jacey Schuler (1-0) plated Faulkner, who beat out an infield single to start the frame and advanced to second on a Sarah Terrell sacrifice.  

MSU got on the scoreboard with consecutive Sophia Grillo and Sydney Doloszycki RBI singles in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead.

The Spartans added two more in the sixth with a Payton Conroy RBI double to left field, scoring Kendall Smiley, followed by Zoie Bernard's single that chased in Conroy.

Schular got the win, going the first four innings and allowing two hits and a run, fanning two and issuing a walk. Carsyn Cassady and Alexandra Starr finished up, combining for two hits and three Ks.

Knock went 2-for-3 with the homer to center field, while Faulkner and Bailey Bucholz added singles. 

The Lancers scored one in the second inning on the homer and two more in the sixth when Masingale hit into a fielder's choice and Naleya Bridges scored on a throwing error. Masingle later came home on a wild pitch from Notre Dame's Kami Kamzik.

Rebecca Eckart was 2-for-4 with a two RBIs while Hayden Kyne drove in two more for Notre Dame.

Mallory Sanders (0-1) started in the circle, taking the loss in 2 2/3 innings. Morgan Strickland allowed three hist and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

Brianne Weiss (1-1) earned the win for the Irish, fanning five and yielding two hits and a run in four innings.