By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – LaGrange (2-4, 0-0 CCS) used a seven-run fifth inning to earn a split with No. 19 Birmingham Southern (1-1, 0-0 SAA) in an NCAA Division III softball doubleheader on Sunday, February 12, winning the opener 8-6 before falling 10-2 in five innings in the nightcap.
GAME 1: LAGRANGE 8, NO. 19 BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN 6
Following a 1-2-3 top of the first, BSC would waste little time in their half of the inning as Alyssa Fowler belted a one-out solo shot over the left field fence for an early 1-0 lead. They wouldn't be able to capitalize on an error that allowed the next batter to reach before a pair of fly outs ended the inning.
Neither team got anything going in the second but LaGrange threatened in the top of the third, beginning with a leadoff single by sophomore outfielder Abby Vanhoose (LaGrange, Ga.). She moved to second on a groundout, third on a fielder's choice and then came home on that same play when Birmingham Southern mishandled the ball, knotting it up at 1-1. A hit batter put runners on first and second but back-to-back outs shut down the inning.
The homestanding Panthers would answer in the bottom of the third as they used a walk and infield grounder to get a runner in scoring position. With two outs, Izzy Berkopec then singled up the middle to bring home Cassidy Dickson to make it 2-1 and would then score herself when Leah Wood reached on an error. It wouldn't stay a two-run margin long as Margaret Axelson came up and sliced a double to right, scoring Wood and extending the lead to 4-1 before a line drive curtailed any further damage.
After those fireworks all would be quiet in the fourth but it would turn out to be the calm before the storm when it came to the top of the fifth. Trailing 4-1 and with little offense to speak of, what happened next was unexpected and stunned BSC. With one out and a walk, LaGrange proceeded to pound out six hits and take advantage of a pair of costly errors to plate a whopping seven runs.
Freshman outfielder Katelyn Minnihan (Stockbridge, Ga.) and junior third baseman Marley Smith (Smithfield, Ga.) then knocked back-to-back doubles to cut it to 4-3. A single and an error then put a runner on second and junior first baseman Hailee Palmer (Waverly Hall, Ga.) knotted it up with a single up the middle.
Not content to stop there, senior designated player Abbey Gardner (Bainbridge, Ga.) singled home the go-ahead run in the form of freshman shortstop Kelsea Moody (Johns Creek, Ga.) and an error on the ensuing batter made it 6-4. Vanhoose then kept the party going with a RBI single to right and Gardner brought home the seventh run of the inning when freshman outfielder Abby Hefner (Talking Rock, Ga.) reached on an error. Birmingham Southern was finally able to get out of the game-changing inning when they managed a double play.
The damage was already done, however, as the Panthers wearing red and black had gone from down three late on the road to up four, 8-4. From there, the clubs would combine for just two hits over the next inning and half before BSC responded with a rally in the bottom of the seventh.
A one-out walk was followed by a double to left by Fowler, putting runners in scoring position for Jordyn Green who laced a single to center to score both. They would get no further, however, as LaGrange wrapped up the 8-6 upset of the No. 19 team in the country on their home field.
Fowler led the way for the homestanding Panthers, going 2-for-4 with a double, homerun, RBI and pair of runs scored while Green had two RBIs. Hailee Bryan went 2-for-3 at the plate while surrendering six runs in 4.1 innings to suffer the loss and fall to 0-1.
For all the damage inflicted in the fifth, LC would have no one with more than one RBI. Of the six different players with an RBI, Vanhoose led the way with a 2-for-3 day that included a run scored and Smith had a double and a run.
Palmer, Gardner, Green and Minnihan rounded out that group and Moody added a 2-for-4 outing. Freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) delivered her third complete game, allowing five earned runs and striking out six to move to 2-1.
GAME 2: NO. 19 BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN 10, LAGRANGE 2
The nightcap would have a far different feel, and that early on as BSC scored five runs in the first two innings. LaGrange would bounce back in the top of the third with a two out rally that saw them notch four straight singles with senior infielder Reagan Gunter (Villa Rica, Ga.) being the beneficiary as her knock brought home both runs.
It would not stay a three-run margin long, however, as Fowler struck again, this time raking a triple to center to score Isabella Furgason. That would just be the tip of the iceberg, however, as Birmingham Southern used three hits and as many errors to push across four runs in the bottom of the fifth to end things early with an eight-run victory.
Axelson led BSC with a 3-for-4, three RBI day and Berkopec wasn't far behind, going 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Fowler added a 2-for-3 outing that included two RBIs, a triple and a pair of runs and Furgason finished with three runs as part of a 2-for-2 day. Axelson notched the complete game in the circle, allowing a pair of earned runs while striking out five to get the win and improve to 1-0.
Gunter anchored the top performances for the Panthers, going 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs while Hefner went 2-for-2. Minnihan went just 1.1 innings, allowing five runs to take the loss and fall to 0-1.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, February 18 when they continue their eight-game road swing at Emory. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. in Atlanta, Georgia.
