DEMOREST, Ga. - LaGrange dropped two USA South games at Piedmont on Wednesday. The host Lady Lions (7-2, 2-0 USA South) won Game 1 6-3 and came from behind to take Game 2 10-7.
The Panthers (0-4, 0-2 USA South) were led at the plate by Lauren DeLoach and Taylor Long. DeLoach went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. Long was 4-for-7, including three hits in the second game.
Game 1
Piedmont built a 6-0 lead through four innings. The Panthers cut the lead in half with a three-run fifth inning. McKenzie Brunel's ground out drove in the first run of the inning. Long forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Madelynn Formby's sacrifice fly capped the inning. Emsley Smith (0-3) took the loss, allowing all six runs, five earned. Ivy Grant threw 2/2-3 scorless innings, giving up just one hit.
Game 2
LC jumped out to a 5-1 lead by the top of the third inning. Brunel's infield hit and Long's two-run single were part of three-run second inning. But the Lady Lions came back with five runs in the bottom of the third, three in the fourth, and another run in the fifth to go up 10-5. Brittany Todd's base hit in the sixth drove in two runs to get the Panthers within three, 10-7. Payton Smith started for the Panthers, allowing six runs but only three were earned. Grant surrendered an unearned run in three more innings of work.
The Panthers host Fontbonne in a non-conference doubleheader Friday. Game times are 4 and 6 p.m.
