FARMVILLE, Va. — Senior right-handed pitcher Maggie Chapin scattered six hits and one unearned run for a complete-game win as the Longwood softball team defeated Le Moyne, 7-1, in the first of two games at the Longwood Spring Break Classic on Friday.
Brooke Bennett went 2-for-3 with her team-leading seventh home run of the season and two runs driven in while Lauren Faulkner doubled, walked, scored twice and stole a base in the victory.
Youngstown State scored eight runs over the first three innings in the nightcap, going on for an 11-2 win in six innings. The Penguins (10-6) took control of the game with six runs in the top of the third inning and held Longwood without a hit into the fifth inning.
"Little things become big things when you don't take care of them," Longwood head coach Dr. Megan Brown said. "We are taking a lot on the teeth right now. This is when teams have to come together and decide who they want to be and are they up for the work and discipline required to do the things that winning requires."
Against Le Moyne (1-13), Longwood jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings. The Lancers scored three times in the first without the benefit of a hit, getting a bases-loaded walk from Maggie Hiatt and a two-RBI fielder's choice by Sophia Knock in the frame. Bennett singled through the right side in the second to plate Kate Westmiller for the 4-0 lead while grew to 5-0 on a Hiatt base hit in the fourth as Lauren Faulkner came around.
Bennett's leadoff homer to left-center field in the sixth made it 6-1 and, later in the inning, Bailey Bucholz walked with the bases loaded for the seventh run.
Chapin improved to 4-6 on the season, striking out six and issuing just one walk in 95 pitches. Tatum Nessman dropped to 1-5 with 2 2/3 innings of six-run, five-hit ball.
Youngstown State, which topped Longwood (9-14) for the second straight day, banged out 10 hits and received four RBIs from Bree Kohler in the contest as Paityn Murphy moved to 4-2 on the year with 4 2/3 innings with two hits and two runs and three walks.
For Longwood, Brooke Masingale smacked a two-run single in the fifth to extend the game into the sixth inning. Her base hit up the middle scored Ava Abromovage and Bucholz.
Longwood faces the Penguins again on Saturday, followed by Lafayette at 3 p.m., as tournament action rolls on.
