By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – A three-run first inning in Game 1 and a five-run sixth in the nightcap were enough as LaGrange (1-3, 0-0 CCS) dropped a doubleheader to Reinhardt (3-1, 0-0 AAC) by scores of 4-1 and 11-4 in NCAA Division III softball action on Wednesday, February 8.
GAME 1: REINHARDT 4, LAGRANGE 1
Reinhardt would waste no time as they jumped out to not only an early lead in the first, but what would be a decisive one. Following a strikeout, Molly Stevens roped a double to the right centerfield gap and then was driven home by a single to right from Emily Loveless to make it 1-0.
She would then swipe second but as it turned out wouldn't need to. The very next batter, Hannah Kate Singleton, would do more than her namesake as she ripped a ball down the left field line and over the fence for a 3-0 advantage. They would manage another single and a stolen base by Alexis Griffith following another strikeout before she got caught trying to take third to get LC out of the inning.
The Panthers would respond in the home half of the frame as senior catcher Maggie White (Alabaster, Ala.) reached on an error by the third baseman and went to second on a botched throw by the shortstop on the same play. Junior outfielder Marley Smith (Smithfield, Ga.) singled to right and proceeded to steal second to put runners on second and third with no one out.
A liner to short then held the runners and rang up the first out of the inning and was followed by senior first baseman Abbey Gardner (Bainbridge, Ga.) grounding out to short. That brought home White to make it 3-1 but they would get no closer with a groundout to second coming right after.
LaGrange survived a pair of singles in the top of the second but could not capitalize in bottom of the inning. The Eagles would take full advantage in the top of the third as they tacked on a run to make it a three-run difference. Back-to-back singles by Loveless and Singleton, followed by a sacrifice fly by Kyra Lightner, then accounted for that run.
From there the clubs would scatter a combined six singles over the next four and a half innings, none of which would result in another run crossing the plate as RU came away with the 4-1 victory.
Loveless led the way for Reinhardt, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Singleton was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs on her homerun. Lightner was responsible for the other RBI with her sac fly and Griffith went 2-for-3 with a pair of steals. Freshman pitcher Kylie Freije went the distance in the circle, scattering five hits and allowing just one run to improve to 1-0 on the young season.
For the Panthers, Gardner had the one RBI on the day while Smith went 2-for-4 with a steal. Freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) threw her second straight complete game in as many career starts but allowed 10 hits and four runs, all earned, while striking out five in a losing effort. She falls to 1-1 on the year.
GAME 2: REINHARDT 11, LAGRANGE 4
Once again the teams would get the bats going early and this time they would keep them that way. Following a groundout, Eryn Lee would build her own run as she singled to third, stole second and then swiped third – all before the next batter. That individual, Loveless, then plated her with a groundout to second before LC got out of the inning on a comebacker to the pitcher.
It would be an inauspicious beginning for RU on defense, however, as White got plunked to lead off the inning and was promptly pinch run for by freshman outfielder Jaiden Gay (Guyton, Ga.). Smith would single through the right side to put two on and, following the first out of the inning on an infield popup, Gardner dropped down a sac bunt to move the runners.
That set the stage for junior first baseman Hailee Palmer (Waverly Hall, Ga.) who poked a single through the right side to score both and notch a 2-1 lead. They would not be able to capitalize any further, however, as a fielder's choice closed out the inning.
The top of the second would see Singleton rip a leadoff double to left field and then advance to third on a wild pitch on a strikeout. Following another swing and a miss for the second out Singleton would come home on an error at third to tie it up at 2-2 and Kalyn Jinks and Alexis Teems notched back-to-back singles to load the bases. The Panthers, however, would get out of the jam when Lee chopped a ball in front of home plate and junior catcher Lindsey Green (Temple, Ga.) stepped on home to end the threat.
It would just be a precursor of what was to come though as Reinhardt pounded out six hits for four runs int eh top of the third to pull ahead 6-2. That rally would consist entirely of singles as the Eagles chipped away at the defense.
The Panthers responded in the home half of the inning as freshman shortstop Kelsea Moody (Johns Creek, Ga.) singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third on a groundout. Palmer would then bring her home on a groundout to third to cut the deficit to three before Green singled and freshman outfielder Abby Hefner (Talking Rock, Ga.) walked. Sophomore outfielder Abby Vanhoose (LaGrange, Ga.) then scored Green with a single to the right centerfield gap to make it 6-4.
That would be as close as they would get as the Eagles put the game away in the top of the seventh, pounding out five more runs to take an 11-4 lead before closing out the eventual seven run victory an inning and a half later.
Singleton would produce another impressive outing to anchor RU as she went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored while Jinks was 3-for-5 with a run and RBI. Loveless went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Lee finished with a pair of steals as part of a two-RBI day. Whitney Shepherd threw four innings of scoreless relief, scattering three hits, walking one and striking out four to pick up the win and move to 1-0.
Palmer led the charge for LaGrange, going just 1-for-4 but delivering three RBIs and Vanhoose added the other RBI. Sophomore second baseman Kenzie Hornsby (Tallassee, Ala.) was 2-for-2 and Moody finished 2-for-4 to round out the offense. In the circle Gardner took the loss to fall to 0-1 after going just three innings and allowing 10 hits and five earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, February 11 when they hit the road for the first time as they travel to No. 19 Birmingham Southern for a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. EST in Birmingham, Alabama.
