JACKSON, Miss. – The LaGrange College softball team earned a pair of five-inning victories on Sunday at the Millsaps Tournament, as the Panthers defeated the University of Dallas, 10-1, and Mississippi University for Women, 18-1, in Jackson, Mississippi.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to play a competitive tournament," said Panthers head coach Jennifer Claybrook. "The tournament was first class, and so were the teams and coaches that we played. I am extremely proud of the team and its commitment to excellence. We had solid performances from all of our seniors offensively and defensively. Our leadership, work ethic and commitment to each other give me great hope for this season."
The Panthers (2-2) combined for a total of 32 hits in the two wins, while LaGrange played error-free defense during both games. Freshman starting pitcher Abbey Gardner earned her first-collegiate win in the circle, going the distance against the Crusaders (4-6). Junior starter Natalie Glass went the distance and earned the win against the Owls.
Senior Taylor Long went 4-for-8 batting, to go along with four RBIs, three runs and a triple. Junior Brittany Todd (4-for-9, home run, double, 2 RBIs, run) performed exceptionally well in the two games, while Gardner went 4-for-4, with two doubles, four runs and an RBI in the game against Mississippi University for Women.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS (LaGrange 10, Dallas 1, 5 innings):
- The Crusaders opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first on a two-out, RBI single to right by Liz Cordova, scoring Madison Coutts from third.
- The Panthers compiled a four-run fourth, highlighted by RBI singles from junior Kaitlin Redman and senior McKenzie Brunel. LaGrange built a 4-1 lead in the inning, finishing with three hits and capitalizing on two errors by Dallas.
- LaGrange blew the game wide open with six runs in a six-hit fifth inning. Gardner started the rally with a one-out single up the middle, and then scored two at-bats later on an RBI single up the middle by senior Riley Densmore.
- The Panthers extended their lead to 7-1 three batters later on a two-run single through the right side by senior Lauren DeLoach, allowing Densmore and Redman to cross home. The scoring ended with DeLoach and Brunel sprinting across home on a single to right by Long with two outs.
- Gardner went the distance in the circle, retiring the side in order during the second and fifth innings for the Panthers. She struck out four and walked two, while allowing four hits and one earned run. Redman went 2-for-3 batting, along with two runs and an RBI.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS (LaGrange 18, Mississippi University for Women 1, 5 innings):
- The Panthers scored at least one run in all five innings against the Owls, as LaGrange finished the game with 20 hits.
- LaGrange made its presence felt immediately with a three-run first inning. Taylor led off with a triple to right. During the ensuing at-bat, Todd clobbered a two-run homer, giving the squad an early 2-0 advantage. Gardner was next up and continued the rally with a double to right, and then scored three at-bats later on a one-run single to right by Densmore.
- In a seven-hit second inning, the Panthers added on seven more runs. The scoring began with an RBI single up the middle by Gardner and concluded with a two-run single through the right side by Long, pushing the lead up to 10-0.
- Gardner continued swinging the bat well in the third, leading off with a double through the right side. Three at-bats later, Densmore plated Gardner and junior Ivy Grant with an RBI single through the right side. Sophomore Landon DeLamar and Long contributed with RBI singles in the third, as the lead ballooned up to 15-0.
- During the fourth, DeLamar ripped a two-run single to right, allowing Gardner and Grant to score. Long ended the scoring in the fifth with an unearned run, as the Panthers opened up an 18-0 advantage.
- Glass did not allow an earned run in the complete-game effort. She pitched well with runners on base, as she refused to allow any runs in the first or third even though the Owls put a runner in scoring position during both innings.
- Long went 3-for-4 batting, with a triple, three RBIs and three runs. Densmore went 3-for-3, to go along with four RBIs and two runs.
UP NEXT:
- The Panthers will compete in a doubleheader against Greensboro on Saturday, with game times set for 1 and 3 p.m. at the LC Softball Complex.
