By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
MACON, Ga. – LaGrange (13-21, 7-9 CCS) pounded out a 10-0 victory in the opening game and rallied for a 5-4 victory in the nightcap at Wesleyan (4-23, 2-10) in an NCAA Division III softball doubleheader on Friday, April 21.
GAME 1: LAGRANGE 10, WESLEYAN 0 (5 Inn.)
The Panthers asserted themselves right away as they banged out four hits, including triples by freshman designated player Katelyn Minnihan (Stockbridge, Ga.) and senior catcher Maggie White (Alabaster, Ala.), to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
They would tack on a fourth run in the third when White ripped a double to right field to score junior second baseman Lindsey Swearngin (Tyrone, Ga.). LaGrange would add on in the fourth as well, and it would be far from one run. Instead it would be a whopping seven hits and six runs with the final blows being back-to-back RBI doubles by freshman shortstop Kelsea Moody (Johns Creek, Ga.) and sophomore outfielder Abby Vanhoose (LaGrange, Ga.).
Trailing 10-0, a leadoff single and walk would put two on for the Wolves in the home half of the inning before consecutive pop outs and a grounder back to pitcher allowed the Panthers to avoid any damage. From there they would shut down Wesleyan in order in the bottom of the fifth to lock up the 10-0 victory.
The Wolves would be held to just two hits on the day, with Taylor Frye and Presly Edwards both going 1-for-2 to account for those. Katelyn McCord added a pair of walks but got lit up for all 10 runs and 14 hits in the circle to suffer the loss and fall to 0-5.
White would lead the way with a 3-for-3 day that included a double, triple, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored while Swearngin was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and three runs. Moody added three RBIs and a double of her own and Minnihan went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and a pair of runs. Freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) was dominant in the circle as she threw the four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and rang up six strikeouts to improve to 9-8.
GAME 2: LAGRANGE 5, WESLEYAN 4
The nightcap would be a far different story but would end up at the same result, but in a more circuitous route. The Wolves would get on the board first, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the second behind three hits before the clubs combined for just five hits over the next two and a half innings.
Wesleyan would break through in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs for a 4-0 lead, with Edwards delivering the big blow with a two-run shot. After managing just three hits over the first five innings, LaGrange would turn the tide in a major way over the final two frames.
They would take advantage of a leadoff walk and an error in the top of the sixth as White lined a ball to left field to bring home Minnihan and cut it to 4-1. The seventh would see them rally to take the lead with four runs on four hits and an error.
That would be fueled by back-to-back singles and a one-out double by Minnihan that brought home a pair. A groundball by Swearngin then tied it up and White gave the Panthers the lead when she reached on an error on a groundball. A 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh then put the ribbon on a late inning comeback to close the regular season with a sweep.
Edwards delivered for Wesleyan as she went 2-for-4 with a two-run homerun and run scored and Sabrina Bowen accounted for the other two RBIs. Frye rounded out the offense with a 2-for-4 day that included a run scored and Tihana Zupanic threw all seven innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out 11 to fall to 2-7.
Minnihan produced a tremendous game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a pair of runs while Swearingn and White had the other RBIs. Chamberlain helped herself at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and anchored the pitching staff in relief. After senior pitcher Abbey Gardner (Bainbridge, Ga.) surrendered a pair of runs in the first two innings, she would come in for the final five, allowing just two runs and striking out six to collect her second win of the day and move to 10-8.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are now off until the inaugural Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Tournament and will await the seedings following the close of the regular season.
