Juniors Hailey Jones and Rebekah Hobson hit their first home runs in Panther uniforms for the LaGrange College softball team on Saturday afternoon, as the Panthers split a doubleheader with Greensboro at the LC Softball Complex.
The Pride (7-3) recorded a 6-4 win during Game 1, and then the Panthers (3-3) ran away with an 11-4 victory in Game 2. Freshman pitcher Abbey Gardner improved to 2-0 in the circle during the second game, giving up no runs and only three hits over the final 5 1/3 innings.
Sophomore second baseman Landon DeLamar went 4-for-4, with an RBI, in Game 2. Senior catcher Riley Densmore finished 3-for-7 on the day, with three RBIs, a double and a run. LaGrange only recorded one error during the entire doubleheader.
"We have an amazing team this year, with so much talent," said senior Taylor Long, who made numerous impressive plays at shortstop. "It is the beginning of the season, so we are finding our way and seeing what everyone is capable of doing. On Saturday, we came out strong and fought hard in the first game, with great defense and hits. In the second game, we came out and showed Greensboro who we were and did not give up. We had great pitching, strong hits and phenomenal defense."
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS (Greensboro 6, LaGrange 4):
- The Panthers opened the scoring in the second, drawing three-consecutive, one-out walks. With the bases loaded and one down, Densmore slammed a two-run double over the center fielder's head, scoring Jones and junior Kaitlin Redman, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
- The Pride answered in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. A one-run single by Olivia Davidson to right-center, plated Hannah French and cut the Panthers' lead down to 2-1. During the next at-bat, an RBI ground out to shortstop by Cassie Collins knotted the game at 2-2.
- Caroline Stanley scored the game-winning run in the fifth, putting the visitors in front, 3-2. She led off with an infield single, and then stole second and third base on separate pitches. She crossed home during the game-winning RBI ground out by Kirsten Doss.
- In the top half of the sixth, Long made an outstanding defensive play for LaGrange. With a runner on third and one out, Long immediately threw the ball home during an infield ground ball to short, as Densmore applied the tag to save a run from scoring.
- Greensboro opened a three-run lead later in the sixth, as a result of an RBI triple by Kassie Simmons and a one-run double by Stanley.
- The Panthers showed resiliency in the bottom of the sixth, as Todd started off the inning by beating out a throw from shortstop during an infield single. Three batters later, Jones crushed a two-run shot over the fence in left-center, bringing LaGrange to within one at 5-4.
- A two-out, RBI single through the left side in the seventh by Kailey Walker of Greensboro scored Doss and extended the Pride's lead to 6-4.
- Jones reached base three times, going 2-for-2, with two RBIs, two runs and a walk. Cheyanne Cox earned the complete-game win in the circle for the Pride, striking out 12 batters and walking four. She relinquished five hits and four earned runs.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS (LaGrange 11, Greensboro 4):
- Greensboro went on the board in the top half of the first, doing all its damage with two outs. Simmons and Alexis Sox recorded back-to-back singles, and then Simmons scored on an RBI single down the right-field line by Davidson.
- Long led off the Panthers' side of the first with a bunt single. Two at-bats later, Long tied the game with an unearned run off a passed ball. A sacrifice fly to center by Jones allowed junior Brittany Todd to score, giving the Panthers a 2-1 advantage.
- Greensboro reclaimed the lead at 4-2 in the second inning on a three-run blast to left-center by Walker. In the bottom of the third, Hobson responded with the game-winning, three-run homer to center, which put LaGrange in the lead for good at 5-4.
- Senior McKenzie Brunel drew a walk to open the fourth for the Panthers, and then sprinted across home on a wild pitch two at-bats later, giving the team some breathing room at 6-4.
- The Panthers added on five more runs in the sixth, as they showcased outstanding base-running capabilities. Freshman Chasiti Wade, who was on first, and Todd, who was on third, both scored during a bunt by Gardner. LaGrange confused Greensboro's defense and took advantage of multiple throws, as Gardner ended up on second. Densmore ended the scoring and gave the Panthers an 11-4 lead on a two-out, RBI single to center by DeLamar.
- Densmore went 2-for-4, with an RBI and a run, while seven different Panthers recorded at least one hit. LaGrange led the hits' category, 11-10, while Greensboro made two errors and LaGrange was charged with one.
UP NEXT:
- The Panthers will welcome Averett to the LC Softball Complex on Monday for a doubleheader, with game times set for 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., respectively.
