Dani Gravett's pitching and hitting led LaGrange to an 8-1 win over Methodist in the second game of a USA South doubleheader Saturday at the LaGrange College Softball Complex. The visiting Monarchs won the first game 5-4.
Gravett (4-5) threw a complete game five-hitter as the Panthers (20-12, 11-11 USA South) stopped a four-game losing streak. The lone run was unearned as Gravett walked three and struck out a season-high eight. At the plate, the sophomore had two hits and two RBIs.
The Panthers got a run in the first inning, then broke the game open in the fourth with four runs to go up 5-0.
Kalin Oglesby's bases loaded bunt single brought home the first run of the inning. Gravett followed a base hit to right center, driving in two more runs. Oglesby scored the final run of the inning as Olivia Wolfe flied out to right center.
Leading 6-1, the Panthers closed out the scoring in sixth inning. They loaded the bases on a pair of hits and an error. Jordan Conner's single down the right field line scored pinch-runner Adrienne Little and Wolfe.
The Panthers had eight hits in the game. In addition to Gravett, Amanda Morier also had two hits.
The first game see-sawed back and forth with three lead changes. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Wolfe's double to right center, scoring Oglesby.
The Monarchs (10-25, 7-15 USA South) came back with a three-run home run by Kelsey Harrington off Wolfe (11-5) in the second inning.
The Panthers tied the game with two runs in their half of the third. Gravett drove in both runs with a one-out single up the middle.
Wolfe put the Panthers up in the fifth inning. She led off the inning with her seventh home run of the season, tying the school record for home runs in a season in the NCAA era of the program.
The Monarchs pushed across two unearned runs in the top of the sixth and made them stand up for the 5-4 win.
The Panthers close out their conference schedule Sunday at home against N.C. Wesleyan. The Panthers are one game ahead of William Peace for the eighth and final slot in next week's conference tournament in Rocky Mount, N.C.
