Panthers down Centre to split doubleheader
April 19, 2008

LaGrange downed Centre 9-1 to earn a split of a non-conference doubleheader Saturday the LaGrange College Softball Complex. The visiting Colonels (19-17) blanked the Panthers (20-16) in the first game.

Amanda Daniel (13-12) pitched two complete games for the Panthers. In the first game, she surrendered the four runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out seven. Daniel allowed an unearned run and only four hits in six innings in the second game. She did not walk a batter and struck out four. Daniel moved into first place on the Panthers' career strikeout list with 346.

Valeree Williams led the Panthers' 10-hit attack in the second game. She had three hits; including two doubles, scored a run and drove in another. Eight different Panthers had hits in the game.

The Panthers broke up a scoreless game with five runs in the fourth inning. Holly Hazelwood opened the inning with a single to right that was misplayed into a two-base error. Williams followed with a double down the left field line to drive in the first run of the inning.

The Panthers added four more runs in the inning. Pinch-runner Whitley James scored as Leah Flowers reached on a fielder's choice. Kayla Yeargin followed with an RBI double and then Haleigh Kellar a run-scoring single to make it 5-0.

The Panthers padded their lead in the fifth inning aided by two Colonel errors. Kristi Underwood's base hit scored Hazelwood, who had reached on an error to start the inning. Erica Robinson followed with an RBI single and Underwood scored as Yeargin reached on an error to make it 8-1.

The Panthers closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on the eight-run mercy rule. They loaded the bases with no outs on an error, a hit batsmen and a single. Katie Hein ended the game by scoring on a wild pitch for the 9-1 final.

In the first game, the Colonels' Tyler Travis blanked the Panthers on just three hits. Hein and Underwood had doubles, while Williams had the other hit.

The Panthers host Emory on Sunday to close out the regular season. It will be Senior Day for Daniel, Robinson, Allison Gordon and Megan Henry.