By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
ROME, Ga. – LaGrange (2-8, 0-0 CCS) hung with one of the best teams in the country in No. 5 Berry (5-1, 0-0 UAA) before dropping a pair of decisions in an NCAA Division III softball doubleheader on Wednesday, February 22.
GAME 1: NO. 5 BERRY 8, LAGRANGE 0 (6)
In what would be a pitcher's duel over the first five and a half innings, the Panthers would manage a pair of singles in their half of the opening frame before stranding runners on first and second while turning a double play to shutdown the Vikings in their half of the inning.
While each team would get traffic on the basepaths over the next two and a half innings none would cross home plate. That would change in the bottom of the fourth, however, as Anna Jackson doubled to left to leadoff the inning and a one out single by Morgan Frye moved her to third. The latter promptly stole second to put both in scoring position and Katie Parker took advantage, bringing Jackson home on with a sacrifice fly to right before the Panthers got out of any further trouble with a flyout.
Following a 1-2-3 Top of the fifth, Berry responded with runners on first and third but would be unable to capitalize. LaGrange would look to be in position to take advantage in the top of the sixth as freshman shortstop Kelsea Moody (Johns Creek, Ga.) roped a one out double and senior catcher Maggie White (Alabaster, Ala.) singled her to third.
Freshman outfielder Jaiden Gay (Guyton, Ga.) pinch ran at first and proceeded to steal second but Moody would be cut down at home on a fielder's choice for the second out and a pop out would then choke off any further threat.
It would be a decisive moment as the Vikings wasted no time in the home half of the inning with Frye jacking a leadoff shot to center to double the lead, followed by an Elly Bennett single, Grace Hamilton double and triple Aleeya Thornton that ballooned the margin to 4-0. Katie White singled home a run, moved to second on a fielding error and stole third while Jackson followed with an RBI single of her own. With one on Blair Hall put an end to the opener in walkoff fashion as she belted a two-run homerun down the left field line to cap the 8-0, six-inning victory.
Hall led the way with her two-run homerun for Berry while Thornton went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. White finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, run and pair of stolen bases and Jackson was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Frye rounded out the top offensive performers with her homerun as part of 2-for-3 day and Hall went the distance in the circle, scattering five hits to move to 3-0 on the year.
White posted a 2-for-3 day to lead the Panthers while sophomore outfielder Kenzie Hornsby (Tallassee, Ala.) was 1-for-2 with a double. Moody laced a double and freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) pitched 5.1 innings and allowed six earned runs to fall to 2-3.
GAME 2: NO. 5 BERRY 5, LAGRANGE 1
The Vikings would waste no time in jumping out in front in the nightcap as they scored a pair in the bottom of the first when White singled to lead things off, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and came home on a double to the right centerfield gap by Jackson. She would then make her way to third on a single by Frye and made it 2-0 when Hall lofted a sac fly to center.
It would be another fast start in the second as Bennett stroked a double down the leftfield line and eventually crossed home plate on another sac fly, this one by White to push to a 3-0 advantage. It would stay that way until the sixth when an error put the Panthers in business.
Freshman outfielder Katelyn Minnihan (Stockbridge, Ga.) reached on a bad throw and moved to second on an out but was erased on a fielder's choice by junior infielder Marley Smith (Smithfield, Ga.). Smith would end up going to second on a wild pitch where Moody raked a double to the left centerfield gap to plate her and cut it to 3-1 before BC got out of the inning.
They would respond in the home half of the inning as Parker walked and stole second, followed by Bennett earning the free pass. Following a pop out on a bunt attempt, White then roped a single down the left field line to drive home Bennett. Thornton, on on a fielder's choice, would then score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Sydney Moroney to reach the eventual final margin of 5-1. From there they would allow just one hit in the seventh as they closed out the four-run victory.
White paced Berry with a 2-for-3 day that included a run and two RBIs and Jackson finished 2-for-4 with a double, run and RBI. Moroney and Hall had the other RBIs and Hannah Gore through six innings, allowing just three hits and a run on the way to a win and a 1-0 record.
Moody had the lone RBI for LaGrange with Smith scoring that run. In the circle, freshman pitcher Isabelle Herren (Buford, Ga.) threw a six-inning complete game, surrendering five runs and seven hits to take the loss and fall to 0-3.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are back in action on Wednesday, March 1 when they host Rose-Hulman in a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at the LC Softball Complex.
