By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
ATLANTA, Ga. – It would be a tale of two games as LaGrange (2-6, 0-0 CCS) dropped a narrow 4-3 decision in 11 innings and fell 12-3 in five innings at Emory (2-0, 0-0 UAA) in an NCAA Division III softball doubleheader on Saturday, February 18.
GAME 1: EMORY 4, LAGRANGE 3 (11 Inn.)
Seven innings would not be enough for the clubs to resolve the issue at hand but it did not look like it would even come to that for much of the day.
After being held scoreless through the first two innings, the Eagles Ashley Chu reached on a leadoff infield single to third and an out and two batters later Ella Hoyle dropped one into left field, putting runners on the corners. She would quickly rectify that by stealing second and Tyler Miller lined one to left field to bring home Chu for a 1-0 lead.
It would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth when Emory struck again as Chu notched another infield single, this time to short, and then promptly stole second. A walk by Page Nellis but two on but a double play of the bat of the next batter just left Chu on third. It would be a fortunate turn of events for the Panthers as Miller proceeded to belt a two run blast over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead that could have been worse.
That proved to be a very significant run that was saved by the twin killing as LaGrange woke up the bats just enough to push across three runs and tie it up in the top of the sixth. All of that would come with two outs with senior designated player Maggie White (Alabaster, Ala.) doubling to center to get things started.
Freshman outfielder Abby Hefner (Talking Rock, Ga.) then got plunked and sophomore outfielder Abby Vanhoose (LaGrange, Ga.) laced a double to left field to score freshman outfielder Katelyn Minnihan (Stockbridge, Ga.) who had come in to run for White.
Senior first baseman Abbey Gardner (Bainbridge, Ga.) then singled to third and forced an errant throw on her way to second, two plays that allowed both runners to come around to tie the game at 3-3 before a fly out closed down the frame. The clubs would then each get a runner on in the seventh but not past first and would head to extra innings.
And extra would be the operative word, to be exact – four extra as the teams battled to the 11th inning. The Eagles would mount a threat in the ninth, getting Chu to second with one out only to see the potential game-winning run choked off by a fielder's choice at third.
The Panthers would have the best opportunity to come through, however, as junior infielder Lindsey Swearngin (Tyrone, Ga.) led off the 10th with a double to left and promptly stole third. That opportunity would evaporate quickly when she tried to score on a ball hit to third before Moody stole second with two outs and a strikeout ended the threat.
Emory would start off the same way as Kayla Lang lined one to the left centerfield gap only to see three straight outs waste the effort. That allowed for the Panthers to rally in the top of the 11th with an infield single from Vanhoose, who then moved to second on a groundout to put a runner in scoring position. She would go to third on a single by senior third baseman Reagan Gunter (Villa Rica, Ga.) who then stole second but both would be for naught as the Eagles induced a pair of groundouts to get out of the jam.
It too would be significant as Natalie Swift led off with a single to left and moved to second on a groundout. Following a fly out, Hoyle would put a ball in the air that would find green in right center, landing for a game-winning double to secure a hard-fought 4-3 victory.
Miller led the way for Emory with three RBIs and a run scored as part of a 3-for-5 day while Chu was 3-for-6 with a steal and two runs. Hoyle finished 3-for-6 with a double and the other RBI and Mackenzie Duford threw all innings, giving up just the three runs and striking out six to pick up the win and move to 1-0.
Gardner led the Panthers with two RBIs and Vanhoose was 3-for-5 with a double and RBI while White went 2-for-3. Freshman shortstop Kelsea Moody (Johns Creek, Ga.) swiped a pair of bags and freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) threw her fourth straight complete game – this one all 10.2 innings. She would allow all four runs and strike out four to suffer the loss and fall to 2-2 on the year.
GAME 2: EMORY 12, LAGRANGE 3 (5 Inn.)
LaGrange would threaten right away in the nightcap as a walk, single and two outs put runners on second and third but the Eagles would proceed to get out of it with a groundout. They would then make sure to take advantage as they capitalized on both a throwing and fielding error before Chu crossed home plate. Miller then banged into a double play to end any further damage potential.
Having prevented any other scoring opportunities with slick fielding, LC would benefit from less than crisp defense as Vanhoose reached on a throwing error to lead off the second. Freshman pitcher Isabelle Herren (Buford, Ga.) then punched a single through and both runners would eventually move to third on a groundout.
A Minniahan walk loaded the bases and Emory got the second out on a fly ball but they wouldn't be so fortunate with Swearngin up. She immediately put a ball to centerfield that brought home two to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. It would be extremely short lived.
Things would change dramatically in the third, however, as the Eagles belted out nine hits and took advantage of a pair of errors to push across a whopping 10 runs and go up 11-2. From there the teams would trade runs in the fourth and Emory would put away the 12-3 victory in the bottom of the fifth.
Miller would do damage once again, this time finishing with four RBIs and going 2-for-3 while Swift was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Chu crossed home plate three times and added an RBI as did Hoyle and Dunford. Isabel Cohen started and pitched the first two innings, allowing two runs, and left before she was able to get a decision. That fell to Swift who threw the final three innings, giving up just two hits and a run as she moved to 1-0.
Swearngin led the Panthers with two RBIs and junior third baseman Marley Smith (Smithfield, Ga.) had the other. Minnihan had a double and Herren dropped to 0-2 having given up all but one of the runs, but only four earned.
UP NEXT
LaGrange is right back in action on Wednesday, February 22 when they travel to No. 5 Berry. Game 1 of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m. in Rome, Georgia.
