LaGrange dropped two games to visiting Centre on Sunday at the LC Softball Complex in its season opener. The games were the first for the Panthers under new head coach Melanie Rushing.
Centre took the first game 12-4 in five innings, then used a seven-run seventh inning to complete the sweep with a 10-5 win in the second game.
In Game 1, the Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Sydney Rojo drove in Kenzie Hornsby and Lindsay Green with a two-run single to right field. Centre came back with three runs in the top of the second to go up 3-2.
LC answered with two runs in its half of the second inning. Jessica Coates walked with two outs and went to third on Hornsby's double. Faith Burgamy followed with a base hit down the right field line, scoring Coates and Hornsby to put the Panthers back in front 4-3.
Centre scored four runs in the fourth to take the lead for good. The Colonels added five more in the fifth to end the game on the eight-run mercy rule.
The Panthers fell behind 3-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth. They loaded the bases, then had Abbey Gardner and Regan Gunter come home on wild pitches. Lindsey Green came home with the tying run as Maggie White grounded out to second.
Centre exploded for seven runs in the seventh to go up 10-3. The Colonels were aided by four walks in the inning. The Panthers got an RBI single from Gardner and Landon DeLamar walked with the bases loaded for the 10-5 final score.
Gardner finished the doubleheader with four hits, including a double. White, Gunter, and Hornsby each had two hits.
The Panthers are off until Feb. 26-27 when they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina for four games.
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