ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - LaGrange upended top-seeded Piedmont 4-0 and fourth-seeded Ferrum 3-1 on the first day of the USA South Tournament at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.
The Panthers (22-12) got outstanding pitching from Olivia Wolfe (12-5) and Dani Gravett (5-5). Both pitchers threw complete game two-hitters.
Wolfe also helped herself at the plate with a home run. It was her eighth home run of the season, setting a new school NCAA-era mark.
Against Piedmont, Wolfe allowed only one batter to reach second. She surrendered the two hits, walked two and struck out one.
The Panthers got a run in the second to go up 1-0. Alison Jiles led off with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt and ground out. Jiles scored as Christy Flick reached on an error.
The Panthers added three insurance runs in the seventh to make it 4-0. Wolfe had the big blow, a two-run home run to left, scoring pinch runner Breanna Wallace. Gravett had started the inning with a single. Danielle Newbern capped the inning with an RBI single, scoring pinch runner Adrienne Little.
Newbern, Jiles and Gravett all had two hits in the game for the Panthers.
Ferrum took a 1-0 lead off Gravett in the second game. Gravett held Ferrum to the two hits and pitched around seven walks.
The Panthers tied the game in the fifth. Kalin Oglesby doubled to start the inning and moved over to third on a sacrifice. Wolfe drove in Oglesby with a single to tie the game 1-1.
In the sixth, the Panthers broke the tie with two runs. Newbern and Flick started the inning with back-to-back hits. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Turner. Amanda Stukel followed with a double down the right field line, driving in both runners for a 3-1 lead.
Gravett retired Ferrum in order in the seventh to seal the win.
The Panthers play Huntingdon on Saturday at 12 p.m. in the winner's bracket game.
