Danielle Newbern's grand slam helped LaGrange down Mary Baldwin 11-3 and a split of a USA South doubleheader Saturday at the LaGrange College Softball Complex.
The Panthers found themselves down 3-1 in the second game going to the bottom of the second inning. They loaded the bases with one out on three straight singles.
Kalin Oglesby made it four straight, with an RBI single to center to score Adrienne Little. One out later, Newbern connected for her second home run of the season and a 6-3 lead.
The Panthers added four more runs in the third to expand their lead to 10-3. Emily Barrs led off the inning with her second home run of the season. Lindsey Hogan drove in another run with a double to left center and the Panthers took advantage of a couple of errors to score two more runs.
The Panthers pushed across a run in the fourth to make it 11-3. Reliever Kara Patterson retired Mary Baldwin in order in the fifth to end the game on the 8-run mercy rule. Patterson (2-1) threw three innings of starter Dani Gravett, who went the first two innings.
The Panthers lost 7-6 to the Fighting Squirrels in the first game. Lindsey Shifflett's three-run home run in the sixth inning broke a 4-4 tie. The Panthers got two runs back in their half of the sixth but could not complete the comeback.
Jessica Smith had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs for the Panthers. Oglesby and Gravett each had two hits.
Olivia Wolfe (4-2) took the loss. She allowed four runs in six innings of relief of Gravett, who pitched one inning.
The Panthers host Ferrum in a USA South doubheader Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
