Panthers split final two games at Millsaps Invitational
March 16, 2008

RIDGELAND, Miss. – LaGrange split its final two games of the Millsaps College Spring Invitational Softball Tournament at Freedom Park Ridge on Sunday. The Panthers came  from behind to top Colorado College 9-6 and lost 3-1 to Trinity (Texas). The Panthers finished 3-3 in the tournament and are 8-6 on the season.

Haleigh Kellar's grand slam home run propelled the Panthers past Colorado. Kellar's first hit of the season and first collegiate home run highlighted a six-run third inning. The Panthers trailed 3-2 heading into the inning.

The Tigers had jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning off LaGrange starter Kristen Woodard (1-0). The Panthers got back two of the runs in their half of the first. With two outs, Kristi Underwood got the first of her three hits in the game. Jennifer Knight followed with her second home run of the tournament and third of the season to make it 3-2.

Katie Hein reached on an error to lead off the third inning. Underwood and Knight followed with back-to-back hits. Hein scored on Knight's hit to tie the game at 3-3. Allison Gordon walked to load the bases. Kellar followed with her slam over the left field fence to put the Panthers up 7-3. Kristen Woodard and Emily Foster had back-to-back base hits to put runners on second and third. Woodard scored on Valeree Willaims' sacrifice fly to up the Panthers' lead to 8-3.

Leading 8-5, LaGrange got an insurance run in the sixth inning. The Panthers loaded the bases with the help of two errors by the Tigers. Underwood drove in Holly Hazelwood, who had started the inning with a base hit, with her third hit of the game to make it 9-5.

Woodard pitched the first four innings to get the win. She allowed five runs, four earned and scattered eight hits. Hein went the final three innings to get her first save of the season. She allowed only an unearned run, a hit, walked two and had a strikeout.

The Panthers were held to seven hits in the loss to Trinity. Hein was the only Panther with two hits. Kate Wright went six innings for the Tigers, allowing the lone run. Karen Fisher pitched a scoreless seventh to seal the win.

Fisher had given the Tigers a 2-0 lead off starter and loser Megan Henry (1-1) in the fourth inning. Lee Smith had singled with two outs. Fisher followed with a home run to left field to put the Tigers ahead.

The Panthers got a run back in the top of the fifth inning. Kayla Yeargin had an infield single to lead off the inning. Whitley James entered the game as a pinch runner for Yeargin. She stole second and went over to third on Williams' base hit to left. James scored on Hein's infield hit to make it 2-1.

Trinity added an insurance run in the fifth inning. Amanda Daniel relieved Henry after back-to-back hits by Christina Carni and Jamie Williams. Michelle Gossein singled to right off Daniel to score Carni.

The Panthers play at Huntingdon in a GSAC doubleheader Friday.