ATHENS, Ga. — Michigan State broke open a 2-2 game with five runs in the fifth inning and went on for a 7-2 win over the Longwood softball team in the 18th Annual Red & Black Showcase at Georgia's Jack Turner Softball Stadium on Friday.

Michigan then jumped on Lancers' right-hander Erin Kirkland for four runs in the first inning in the second game of the day, rolling to 8-0 victory in five innings.

"There is a hard way and an easy way to do things," said Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown," but greatness was never achieved by taking the easy way out."

Longwood (2-5) spotted Michigan State (2-4) a 2-0 lead through three innings before knotting the game with tallies in the fourth and fifth.

Sophomore Maggie Hiatt led off the top of the fourth with her sixth career home run, taking a 1-2 pitch over the fence down the left-field line off of right-hander Jacey Schuler to get the Lancers on the scoreboard.

Madison Taylor relieved Schuler in the fifth and was unable to retire any of the three batters she faced. Freshman Sophia Pisacano lined a ball up the middle for her first collegiate hit to start the frame and Avery Jefferson followed with a double to left, chasing Pisacano all the way around from first to to tie the game.

Naleya Bridges then coaxed a seven-pitch walk from Taylor prior to Schuler coming back to the  circle to end the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a popup.

Maggie Chapin (1-2) induced Hannah Greer to hit a ground ball to first base for the first out of the bottom of the inning, but Hannah Hawley helped MSU retake the lead, 3-2, with a homer to left-center field.

Morgan Strickland came on for Chapin after a Kendall Smiley single through the left side. After  Smiley stole second and Britain Beshears walked, Kaelin Cash made it 4-2 with a single to left.

Next up, Sydney Doloszycki belted a three-run shot to left field to account for the final margin.

Chapin lasted 4 1/3 innings, scattering six of MSU's eight hits and four runs. She struck out four and walked two.

Schuler (2-1) went seven innings, allowing three hits, one walk and one run, striking out 12.

Michigan (3-4) then pounded out 13 hits, including five for extra bases, and received a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts from Lauren Derkowski.

The Wolverines scored four runs in the first, two in the third and two more in the fifth to bring the game to an early end.

Maddie Erickson went 3-for-3 with a double and run scored while Indiana Langford and Lilly Vallimont each had two hits. Vallimont drove in four runs.

Hiatt and Avery Drake had the Lancers' hits, both singles.

Kirkland (1-3) yielded four runs, four hits and a walk before giving way to Cierra Gawryluk.

Longwood faces Western Carolina at 10:30 a.m., Saturday before a 6 p.m., rematch with Michigan State.