FARMVILLE, Va. — Junior Naleya Bridges cranked a two-run walk-off home run off the foul pole in left field as the Longwood softball team finished off an 18-10 victory over Mount St. Mary's in in five innings on Sunday to conclude the Bank of the James Invitational.
The Lancers, who came back to beat Hampton, 7-3, in their first game of the day, completed the weekend 6-0, improved to 8-12 overall.
"Lots of positives from this weekend," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "Saw many young ladies step up and perform when their name was called. So proud of them for that. We spoke about gaining some traction in our process and they are starting to see the rewards of their hard work. Still have areas to grow but very pleased with their results."
Against the Mount (2-12), the Lancers posted a season-high 18 runs on 15 hits, using seven-run first and second innings to build the lead.
Eleven different players collected hits with Sophia Knock, Maggie Hiatt, Ava Abromavage and Kate Westmiller securing two apiece. Lauren Faulkner, Hiatt and Westmiller each drove in three runs and five Lancers scored multiple runs.
Mallory Sanders (1-1) earned her first collegiate win in the circle in relief of KK Byas, going two innings and scattering a pair of hits and an unearned run.
Mount St. Mary's rallied to within 16-10 with a five-run top of the fifth, forcing the Lancers to play the bottom of the inning. Longwood, though, didn't mess around in that half, as Natalia Colone worked a full-count leadoff walk from Sophia Vlahos, who gave way for Emmaleigh Zagrodnicheck in the circle. Zagrodnicheck served up the Bridges homer to end the game.
The blast was the seventh of Bridges' career.
Longwood scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning against Hampton (4-9) for a 4-2 lead and tacked on one in the fourth and two in the sixth to seal the win.
Brooke Bennett blasted her six homer of the year, a two-run shot to right field, and Knock added an RBI double to left center in the frame after the Pirates received a two-run single from Camryn Hamilton in the top of the inning.
Brooke Masingale hit an run-scoring single up the middle in the fourth and Knock homered to left with two out in sixth after Hiatt reached.
Cierra Gawrluk (2-1) earned the pitching win with one inning of relief. Maggie Chapin picked her second save, coming in with the tying run on deck and retiring two hitters.
Bennett went 3-for-4 with a double and a homer while Knock was 2-for-4 with a double and homer of her own, driving in a three.
The Lancers return to action Thursday to begin their third and final home tournament of the year, the Longwood Spring Break Classic, with a single game against Youngstown State at 5 p.m. Longwood and the Penguins will play three times in the event which also features games with Le Moyne and Lafayette.
