By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – LaGrange (6-10, 0-0 CCS) split a pair of games with Meredith (4-5, 0-0 USA South), winning 9-1 in five innings and falling 10-3, in an NCAA Division III softball doubleheader on Saturday, March 11.
GAME 1: LAGRANGE 9, MEREDITH 1 (5 Inn.)
The Panthers would jump out to an early 2-0 lead when freshman designated player Isabelle Herren (Buford, Ga.) took advantage of two runners in scoring position as she laced a single up the middle to score both. While that would open the door, it would be the flood gates in the late innings.
Before LC could add to their lead the Avenging Angels would get on the board in the top of the fourth as Laura Tobin beat out an infield single with two outs to score Alyssa Drake and cut the deficit in half. What had been narrowed to a one-run margin late would suddenly become a laugher – and not a long one at that.
The home half of the frame would see LaGrange pound out five hits and four runs as a leadoff single and back-to-back bunt singles loaded the bases. Following a lineout, sophomore outfielder Kenzie Hornsby (Tallassee, Ala.) took one for the team to drive in a run and senior catcher Maggie White (Alabaster, Ala.) followed with an RBI single to right center. A sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Lindsey Swearngin (Tyrone, Ga.) and single by freshman shortstop Kelsea Moody (Johns Creek, Ga.) then pushed it to 6-1.
Even though Meredith prevented any further damage they would not be out of the woods as a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth would sink their comeback hopes. Following a pair of groundouts to start the inning, LC got back-to-back singles from freshman outfielder Abby Hefner (Talking Rock, Ga.) and senior third baseman Reagan Gunter (Villa Rica, Ga.).
Hornsby then reached on an error to load the bases and White followed with a walk to plate Hefner. Swearngin then wrapped it up early as she poked a single to left center to score Gunter and Hornsby to close out the 9-1 victory in five innings.
The Avenging Angels managed just two hits on the day with Tobin coming away with one of them and the only RBI while Gracie Massengale had the other knock, both singles. Hannah Weigle lasted 3.1 innings and gave up six runs to take the loss and fall to 0-3.
It was a different story on the other side of the ledger as Swearngin led five different Panthers with at least one RBI. She would finish with three RBIs while White went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a walk and a run and Herren had a pair of RBIs. Hornsby and Moody had the other RBIs and Hefner went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
In the circle, freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) was dominant once again as she hurled five innings of two, one run ball – and that run wasn't earned – while striking out four. She picks up the win and moves to 5-3 on the year.
GAME 2: MEREDITH 10, LAGRANGE 3
The tables would turn in the nightcap, however as it would be Meredith that put up two in the first, those coming on RBI singles by Drake and Fallon Wimberley. They would add on four more runs in the third as Wimberley delivered half of that with a two-RBI double to right center and Savannah Talley matched her two batters later to make it 6-0.
A sixth inning double to the left centerfield gap by Emilee Lewis made it a seven-run margin before Jessie Woller cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to center in the seventh. Facing that 10-0 margin in the bottom of the frame LC responded with an RBI double by White and Swearngin reached on an error that took her all the way to third. That would score White and Hornsby but any further hopes of a massive comeback fell by the wayside with a strikeout and file out to close out the 10-3 decision.
Wimberley led the Avenging Angels with three RBIs and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run while Talley matched that performance but with a pair of RBIs. Woller plated three RBIs to go with a walk and Lewis and Drake had the other RBIs. Lillie Davis went the distance, striking out eight and allowing just four hits and one earned run to improve to 5-2.
White would have half of the Panthers' four hits, going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored while Hefner and Gunter had the only other hits. Herren lasted only 2.2 innings and gave up six earned runs to take the loss and fall to 1-6.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are now off for a week before they head up the mountain – Lookout Mountain to be specific – to take on Covenant in what will be their inaugural Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) games following a postponement of their Wesleyan series. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 18.
