LAFAYETTE, La. — Sophomore
Maggie Hiatt lined a full-count pitch into left field with the bases loaded, scoring freshman
Brooke Bennett, to lift the Longwood softball team to a 4-3 victory over George Mason in eight innings in the season opener for both at Louisiana's Lamson Park on Friday.
Longwood is set to face No. 1 Texas later Friday as the 39th Annual Louisiana Classics continues.
Hiatt, who went 2-for-3 with a double and walk, helped the Lancers win the first game of the season for first time since an 8-7 triumph over Fresno State on Feb. 11, 2022 in Orlando, Fla.
Knotted, 3-3, heading to the eighth, Bennett reached on a fielding error by George Mason shortstop Maddy Johnson followed by a
Maryanna Guy single to center. That ball was booted by center fielder Charlotte Montgomery as Bennett ended up at third.
The Patriots elected to intentionally walk Preseason Big South Player of the Year
Sophia Knock to load the bases and Hiatt delivered off of Mason right-hander Jordan Tallman.
Junior transfer
Erin Kirkland earned the win for Longwood out of the bullpen, pitching two innings of no-hit, no-run ball and fanning five after
Mallory Sanders and
Cierra Gawryluk surrendered three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning to help George Mason pull even.
Junior righty
Maggie Chapin started and threw three hitless innings, facing two batters over the minimum with six strikeouts and three walks. She struck out the side in the second.
The Lancers tallied single runs in each of the first three innings. Guy scored
Avery Drake, who singled and stole second with a grounder to second with one out to open the scoring.
Naleya Bridges singled up the middle with no outs in the second as pinch-runner
Mary Zepeda came around, doubling the lead.
Longwood made it 3-0 when Drake walked to begin the third and motored all the way home on a Bennett single and Emily Lampela misplay in left field.
The top-three hitters in the Lancers' order — Drake, Bennett and Guy — were a combined 3-for-10 with there runs scored. Drake scored twice, walked once and stole a base.
Longwood banged out seven hits while striking out 12 George Mason batters on the day.
Maya McGowan and Montgomery had two hits apiece in the loss for George Mason.
The teams will meet again Saturday at 1 p.m., central time.
