By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – No. 6 Seed LaGrange (13-23, 7-9 CCS) could not hold a two-run lead and dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 7 Seed Agnes Scott (13-24, 6-10 CCS) in an elimination game in a Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament and NCAA Division III softball game on Friday, April 28.
Neither team would manage a hit over the first two innings, something that would change in the third as ASC managed a single only to see that runner get caught stealing third to end the inning. The Panthers would then put it together in the home half as they pounded out three hits, headlined by an RBI double to left by freshman designated player Katelyn Minnihan (Stockbridge, Ga.), to take a 2-0 lead.
The lead wouldn't even last an inning, however, as the Scotties came right back with a pair in the top of the fourth. That rally would be keyed by a leadoff double by Kilee Thomas and a single by Anna Whitmer that put runners on first and third. A steal of second would be followed by back-to-back outs before Ema Martin punched one through the right side to score both runners and tie it up at 2-2.
That would be only the beginning, however, as Agnes Scott would knock in five runs behind seven hits over the next two frames, beginning with a steal of home and runner scoring on an error for a pair of runs in the fifth. They would then get three doubles in the sixth as they plated three more runs to take a commanding 7-2 lead.
LaGrange would manage just a single hit in the sixth before launching a major rally in the bottom of the seventh. A single and double to lead off the inning set up sophomore second baseman Kenzie Hornsby (Tallassee, Ala.) to lace a two-RBI double to left to cut it to a three-run margin.
Senior third baseman Reagan Gunter (Villa Rica, Ga.) then knocked a two-out single to center to make it 7-5 and sophomore outfielder Abby Vanhoose (LaGrange, Ga.) singled to center to put the tying runs on base. That would be as close as they would get, however, as a pitching change resulted in a fly out to escape with the two-run decision.
Martin led ASC with a pair of RBIs and PresLee Hix went 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Colleen Thorson was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and Keke Mays and Megan Smith accounted for the other two RBIs. Regan Hutto threw the first 5.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs while scattering five hits to earn the win and move to 6-12.
Hornsby led LaGrange with a pair of RBIs on a pinch hit double while Minnihan posted a double and RBI. Junior second baseman Lindsey Swearngin (Tyrone, Ga.) and Gunter each had an RBI and Vanhoose was 2-for-4. Freshman pitcher Claire Chamberlain (Rome, Ga.) went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run but would not fair so well in the circle as she allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 5.2 innings to take the loss and finish the season at 10-10.
UP NEXT
The Panthers have now closed out a 2023 campaign that saw them collect seven weekly honors, including five Rookie of the Week recognitions and two Pitcher of the Week nods.
