Freshman Alison Jiles powered a LaGrange first game comeback and then the Panthers got strong pitching from Dani Gravett in sweeping Judson 6-5 and 2-0 at the LaGrange College Softball Complex on Saturday.
The Panthers (5-1) have won five straight since an opening loss to Berry. The Panthers will close out the first week of the season Sunday with a doubleheader at Wesleyan.
The Panthers fell behind 5-0 after four innings in the first game. Judson (1-8) had all seven of its hits and took advantage of a pair of Panther erros that led to four unearned runs.
The Panthers got back in the game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jiles jump started the rally with a pinch-hit three-run home run to right center; her first and the team's first of the season. Jiles' blast scored Jordan Conner and Danielle Newbern, who had back-to-back one-out singles.
Amanda Morier followed Jiles with a double down the left field line. Courtney Beshel drove in Morier with another double to left to make it 5-4.
Judson threatened in the top of the seventh. The Eagles put runners on second and third with two outs. Kara Patterson (2-0) came on and got a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat.
Jiles struck again in the bottom of the seventh. She led off the inning with a towering shot to left to tie the game. Beshel doubled to the fence with one out and moved over to third on a wild pitch. Christy Flick followed a line drive to right center; scoring Beshel and completing the 6-5 comeback win.
Flick led the 11-hit attack for the Panthers with three hits. Jiles had the two home runs, while Morier and Beshel each had two hits.
In the second game, Gravett (1-1) outdueled the Eagles' Meliah Matthews. Gravett allowed only a fourth inning single to Stephanie Swanson. She walked one and struck out six.
Olivia Wolfe pitched the seventh inning to get her first save of the season.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Jiles doubled to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner Lindsey Hogan stole third and came home on a throwing error to make it 1-0.
In the sixth, the Panthers tacked on an insurance run. Jiles walked to start the inning, then moved over to third on an error as Beshel reached on a fielder's choice. Flick followed with a single up the middle to drive in Jiles, upping the lead to 2-0.
Flick went 5-for-7 in the twinbill, while Jiles an Morier each had three.
