Panthers Swept by Emory
April 15, 2007

The softball team were swept by #20 Emory University Sunday afternoon at Cooper Field.  The Panthers fell 7-2 in the first game followed by a 14-4 five-inning loss.   The win was the Eagles' eighth-straight in the series and boosted their record to 26-6 while the Panthers slipped to 22-17.

In the first game, the Eagles came out strong, scoring four runs to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third.  The Panthers would score two runs to close the gap, 4-2 in the top of the fifth. 

But a solid pitching performance by Ashley Tobar and the Eagles' base runners converting on some wild pitches late in the game preserved the win for Emory.  Megan Henry, (9-7) was credited with the loss.

Senior Kim Woodard led the LaGrange offensive attack with three hits while freshman Valeree Williams collected a pair of hits for the Panthers.  Both teams threatened throughout the contest with each squad stranding 10 runners on base.

In the second game, the Eagles stormed out to a 6-0 lead after two innings.  With the Panthers on their hills early in the contest, they fought their way back into the game in the top half of the third on the strength of a grand-slam homer by Jennifer Knight, narrowing the gap to 6-4.  The fifth home run of the season for Knight is just two from the setting a new school record. 

However, Emory responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame as it took advantage of a couple of LaGrange errors to secure their eighth-straight series win.  They hold a 27-6 advantage all-time against the Panthers. 

Knight and Kristi Underwood would collect two hits for the Panthers.  Underwood and Woodard would each total four hits on the afternoon.  Amanda Daniel (12-8) would get the loss for the Panthers.

The Panthers, who close out the regular season, will be the #2 seed in the GSAC Tournament hosted by Maryville College on April 21-23.