LaGrange used the long ball to beat Piedmont 4-2 in Game 1 of their USA South doubleheader Saturday at the LC Softball Complex. The visiting Lady Lions took the second game 3-1 to gain a split of the twinbill.
In the first game, the Panthers (2-8, 1-1 USA South) did all of their scoring in the third inning. With one out, Taylor Tallent singled. Freshman Kaitlin Richardson followed with her first collegiate home run over the center field fence for a 2-0 lead.
With two out, Chelsea Twardoski had a base hit to keep the inning going. Emily Barrs followed with her third home run of the season, also over the center field fence, to make it 4-0.
Twardoski (2-3) pitched into the fifth inning. She gave up two runs on just two hits, while walking three and struck out one.
Katelyn Little finished the fifth inning for Twardoski. Emily Cauldwell came on in the sixth with two runners on and no outs. She got out of the inning and retired the Lady Lions in order in the seventh to record her first save.
Twardoski started the second game and took the loss. She allowed the three runs, only two were earned, and five hits. Cauldwell pitched two more scoreless innings.
The Panthers got their run in the third innng. Tallent reached on an error to start the inning. She moved up to second on a ground out and scored on Barrs' run-scoring single.
The Panthers host Covenant in a USA South doubleheader Wednesday.
