Posted: Mar 12, 2020
Freshman Abbey Gardner of the LaGrange College softball team forced extra innings with a two-run home run in the sixth during a 7-6, eight-inning loss to Hiram in Game 1 of a doubleheader Thursday, and then the Terriers won, 6-4, in Game 2 at the LC Softball Complex.
Sophomore Landon DeLamar was tremendous during the first game, finishing 3-for-4, with a double and an RBI, for the Panthers (7-5, 2-0 USA South). Senior McKenzie Brunel and junior Hailey Jones went 3-for-7 batting in the doubleheader, respectively.
Lauryn Olguin was impressive for the Terriers (4-8) in Game 2, going 3-for-3, including a triple, double and all six of her team's RBIs.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS (Hiram 7, LaGrange 6, 8 innings):
- During the top of the first, DeLamar made an outstanding defensive play at second base. She acted quickly on a sharply hit ground ball in the gap, throwing out Victoria Garcia at first.
- Gardner showcased great resolve in the circle during the second inning, refusing to give up any runs after Hiram put runners on second and third with no outs. She pitched intelligently and forced three-consecutive infield pop outs.
- The Panthers drew first blood during the third inning, as senior Riley Densmore blasted a two-out, RBI triple to right. During the ensuing at-bat, DeLamar put LaGrange in front, 2-0, with a one-run double to left.
- Hiram responded with a three-run fourth, featuring a two-run double by Leah Valdez and an RBI ground out by Olguin. DeLamar ended the inning with a diving stop on a ball hit up the middle, and then she flipped the ball to senior Taylor Long for the force out at second.
- A two-out, RBI single up the middle by Jones scored Brunel and evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Brunel led off the inning with a walk, and then stole second.
- The Terriers put runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth, and then took a 5-3 advantage on a sacrifice bunt by Mariah Sheffield and a sacrifice fly by Megan Davis.
- During the bottom of the fifth, sophomore pinch runner Karli Whitaker made a crafty slide to steal second base and avoid the tag.
- An RBI ground out by Kaitlyn Hager gave Hiram a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth.
- The Panthers fired back with a four-hit, three-run effort in the bottom half of the inning. Long recorded a one-out single to right, and then junior Brittany Todd drove a double to right-center. Long brought LaGrange to within two at 6-4, scoring on a one-run single through the left side by Jones. During the next at-bat, Gardner slammed her second-collegiate home run over the fence in center, knotting the game at 6-6.
- During college softball, each extra inning begins with a runner being placed on second base. In the top of the eighth, Hiram loaded the bases with no outs, and then Valdez scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Garcia.
- Jones went 2-for-3, with two RBIs, for the Panthers, while the visitors held an 11-10 lead in hits.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS (Hiram 6, LaGrange 4):
- The Terriers came out strong in the second game, building a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run double by Olguin. A three-run triple by Olguin put Hiram in front, 5-0, during the second inning.
- During the top of the fourth, Gardner made an exceptional catch at first base on a sharply hit line drive by Giselle Bahena. Todd made an outstanding play to end the inning, as she caught a fly ball on the run in left. She then threw the ball to DeLamar, turning the double play before the Terriers' base runner could get back to second.
- The Panthers compiled a six-hit, four-run fourth. DeLamar put the Panthers on the board, crossing home on an RBI ground out to third by Brunel. One batter later, Long connected on a two-run double to center, scoring junior Rebekah Hobson and senior Lauren DeLoach. An RBI single to right-center by Jones allowed Long to sprint across home, trimming the deficit down to 5-4.
- During the top of the fifth, Brunel showcased great range in center, catching a deep fly ball on the run for the first out of the inning.
- The Terriers added on an insurance run in the sixth, as Garcia crossed home on an RBI single by Olguin. During the same play, Olguin tried to get to second after Jones threw the ball home. Hobson, who was the catcher in the second game, threw a rocket to Long, who applied the tag at second for the final out of the inning.
- The Panthers held a 12-8 advantage in hits during Game 2, as the squad was led by Gardner (2-for-4), Hobson (2-for-4, run), DeLoach (2-for-3, run) and Brunel (2-for-4, RBI).
UP NEXT:
- The Panthers will compete against Meredith in a doubleheader on Saturday, with game times set for 1 and 3 p.m., respectively, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
