ATHENS, Ga. – Longwood University dropped a 5-3 softball decision to Cleveland State University Saturday afternoon at the Red & Black Showcase Tournament being hosted by the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. The Lancers are now 0-3 to open the 2009 campaign and will continue competition in Georgia on Sunday, February 15, against Elon University at 10 a.m..

Against Cleveland State of the Horizon League, Longwood fell behind 4-0 before scoring two runs in the fifth inning courtesy a two-run home run from sophomore Nichole Simmons/Chesapeake (Hickory) (2-4, HR, 2 RBI). The Vikings added another run in the sixth before the Lancers scored again in the seventh inning on an RBI single from senior Emily Radford/Tacoma, Wash. (Fife) (1-4, RBI).  Junior Camille Ketsdever/Irvine, Calif. (Irvine) (3-4) led LU with three hits, while freshman Courtney Long/Mechanicsville (Hanover) (2-3) added two hits. Sophomore Briana Wells/Romoland, Calif. (Paloma Valley) (0-3) took the mound loss with a complete game effort of 7.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, five runs-three earned, with five walks and two strikeouts.