Panthers lose to Emory to close out regular season
April 20, 2008

Emory spoiled Senior Day for LaGrange by sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 11-3 and 11-5. The losses dropped the Panthers to 20-18 as they closed out the regular season. The Eagles improved to 27-9 after sweeping the Panthers for the second time this season.

LaGrange recognized its four seniors in ceremonies between games. Amanda Daniel, Allison Gordon, Megan Henry and Erica Robinson played their final home games for the Panthers.

Henry (6-4) went the distance in the first game to take the loss. She allowed 14 hits, walked six and struck out one. Daniel (13-13) also pitched a complete game in the second game. She surrendered 16 hits, five earned runs, walked one and struck out nine.

The Panthers were held to five hits in the first game. Gordon had the only extra base hit for the Panthers, a double in the fifth inning. Haleigh Kellar drove in both runs for the Panthers with a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Panthers banged out 10 hits in the second game. Valeree Williams led the Panthers with three hits that included a double and her second home run of the season. Katie Hein and Jennifer Knight each had two hits.

Williams' home run came in the third inning. Hein and Holley Hazelwood started the inning with back-to-back singles. Williams followed with a shot over the left field fence for a 3-1 lead.

Emory came back with five runs in the top of the fourth inning, aided by four Panther errors, to take a 6-3 lead. The Eagles added a run in the sixth and four more in the seventh to build an 11-3 lead. All of Emory's runs came with two outs in the inning.

The Panthers scored two runs in their last at bat. Williams and Knight led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Kristi Underwood's hit up the middle scored Williams with the first run of the inning. Knight scored as Robinson grounded out for the 11-5 final margin.

The Panthers will face either Spelman or Wesleyan in their first game of the GSAC Tournament on Friday at Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga. The Panthers tied Huntingdon for second in the regular season standings. Huntingdon got the second seed based on their two wins over the Panthers.