GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Longwood softball team put a scare into No. 4/5 Florida Saturday, hitting a pair of two-run home runs and carrying a 4-2 lead into the fifth inning, before the undefeated Gators plated seven runs in the bottom of the frame, going on for a 12-4 win in six innings at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sophomore catcher Brooke Bennett hit her second two-run blast of the day and third of the season in the third inning to left field to give the Lancers the lead. Freshman second baseman Lauren Faulkner then muscled up in the fourth for her first career homer, also a two-run job to left, as Longwood retook the lead.

"Tonight was a night that has the ability to change a season," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "Tonight, our players had a chance to see what they are capable of doing. How they are capable of playing. Who they could be. And most importantly, that it is 100% within their control. We have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. But I see the glimmers of greatness peeking through."

Florida sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, finally getting to Longwood right-hander Maggie Chapin for seven runs on five hits in the inning.

Chapin was strong to that point, not allowing a hit to the potent Gators' lineup until Kenleigh Cahalan lined a a double to right field with two out in the third to tie the game, 2-2.

Chapin struck out five in 4 2/3 innings, but issued 11 of the Longwood staff's 14 walks in the game, including four in the third and three in the fifth.

Cahalan started the fifth with a single through the right side and later came around to score on a wild pitch to cut the Longwood lead to 4-3. Two batters later, Gabi Comia lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Giulia Desiderio for a 4-4 tie. Madison Walker then scored on a passed ball as Florida took its first lead.

After a Taylor Shumaker sac fly made it 6-4, a Jocelyn Erickson two-run shot and Cahalan run-scoring double expended the UF lead to 9-4. Florida added three more in the sixth to end it early.

Bennett went 3-for-3 out of the two spot in the order, while Faulkner was 1-for-2. Sarah Terrell and Sophia Knock also collected singles for Longwood. 

Chapin fell to 1-6 on the year with the loss. Cierra Gawryluk and Mallory Sanders combined to get the the last three outs. Olivia Miller (3-0) allowed one hit in the final two innings to earn the win in relief for the 18-0 Gators.

Longwood (1-11) held a 2-1 lead through one inning in its first game of the day against Middle Tennessee on another Bennett two-run homer, however the Blue Raiders scored eight times over the final six innings, including four runs in the top of the sixth to win 9-2.

Mady Pint gave MTSU (5-8) an early lead with a solo homer in the top of the first and Lexi Medlock and Macie Harter recorded two doubles apiece to pace Middle Tennessee's seven-hit offense.

Mary Martinez (1-3) picked up the win in the circle in five innings. She allowed two hits, two runs and four walks with one strikeout. Morgan Strickland (0-2) absorbed the loss for the Lancers in 4 2/3 innings behind Chapin.

Longwood closes the weekend at 9 a.m., on Sunday against Lindenwood.