DANVILLE, Va. - A last inning rally helped LaGrange top Averett 8-5 and gain a split of their USA South doubleheader Saturday. The host Cougars took the first game, 6-2.
The Panthers (12-11, 5-7 USA South) and the Cougars (17-12, 9-3 USA South) went to the seventh inning of the second game tied 4-4.
Dani Gravett was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She moved up to second on an error as Brooke Turner reached first. Adrienne Little followed with a bunt single and Gravett raced home ahead of the throw as Turner ended up at third on the play.
Turner scored as Maegan Harrison flied out to make it 6-4. Sydney Hodorff's double put runners on second and third. One out later, Kately Little and Michaela Keel had back-to-back run scoring singles to pad the Panthers lead to four, 8-4.
Kara Patterson (4-2) gave up a two-out run to the Cougars in the bottom of the inning before finishing the complete game victory.
The Panthers had 10 hits in the game. Hodorff, Katelyn Little, and Kalin Oglesby each had two hits. Hodorff's double was the Panthers' only extra base hit in the game.
Gravett (6-4) took the loss in the first game. Averett took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
The Panthers came back with two runs in the third inning. Adrienne Little reached on a two-out error as Gravett and Ashley Chafin scored on the play. Averett added a run in the fourth, then two more insurance runs in the sixth for the 6-2 final.
The Panthers host Methodist and N.C. Wesleyan in USA South doubleheaders next weekend.
