Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Longwood University softball team picked up a pair of wins on day two of the George Mason Invitational to improve to 14-5 on the season. The Lancers earned a five-inning, 8-0 win against Cornell University (2-4) before defeating host George Mason University (6-9), 4-1, in the night cap. Longwood was led by sophomore Kori Nishitomi/Kaneohe, Hawaii, who logged five hits and three runs, and senior Brooke Short/Hurt, who had four hits, six RBI and two runs. LU will close out the tournament on Sunday, March 10 with a game against Cornell at 9 a.m. and one against Monmouth at 11:15 a.m.

Longwood got on the board in the top of the first as the visitors in its neutral site contest against Cornell. Nishitomi blasted a leadoff triple and Short drove her in with a base hit to center, giving LU an early 1-0 advantage. The squads combined for four runners left on base in the next three at-bats, but Longwood chipped away with another run in the third after loading the bases and scoring on a walk by senior Jordan Cox/Springfield (1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI). The Lancers retired the Cornell side in order in the bottom of the inning before extending its lead with two more runs in the fourth. Sophomore Megan Baltzell/Stafford (2-5, 3 runs, 3 RBI) sent a fly ball deep to center field for a triple and Short followed with a home run to straight away center, making it a 4-0 Lancer lead.

After holding Cornell scoreless in its next at-bat, the Lancers put the game away in the fifth. The squad loaded the bases with a single from Cox, a double from freshman Jamie Barbour/Amelia (2-6, 2 runs) and a walk from Nishitomi. Baltzell was hit by a pinch to get on base with a RBI. Short then drilled a double deep to left field to clear the bases and give LU the eight-run margin needed for the mercy rule to take effect. Cornell could not plate a run in its final attempt, as Longwood secured the 8-0 victory.

Sophomore Libby Morris/Dillwyn earned the win in the circle for LU. She allowed just four hits and two walks, while striking out three en route to the shutout.

In the later game, Longwood played as the home team against host George Mason and quickly sat down the Patriot's side in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Longwood got another leadoff hit from Nishitomi, this time a double down the left field line, before Baltzell hit a two-bagger of her own to knock her teammate in for the first run of the game. Baltzell then stole third to get in position to score on a single from freshman Emily Murphy/Virginia Beach (1-5, 1 RBI), giving LU a 2-0 margin. GMU left two runners stranded in the second before Baltzell lofted a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Barbour to score and give Longwood a 3-0 lead.

The Lancers posted one more run in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Katie Shinrock/Fountain Valley, California (4-6, 1 run) led off with a triple down the line in right field and Nishitomi followed with a RBI single. In the top of the sixth, Mason got a triple to right center, but two quick outs put the squad in a hole. An infield single put the squad's only run on the board, but Longwood finished strong to earn the 4-1 win.

Morris start in the circle for Longwood, going perfect in the first inning before Short relieved her to finish the game. Short allowed five hits and two walks, while striking out five.