Panthers knock off top-seeded Maryville, advance to GSAC championship game
April 22, 2007

MARYVILLE, Tenn. – LaGrange College advanced to the GSAC Championship game by defeating top-seeded Maryville 7-1 on Sunday afternoon.  The second-seeded Panthers improved to 25-17 while the Lady Scots fell to 19-8. 

The Panthers broke a scoreless tie in the third inning.  Chloe Turnipseed scored from second off a Kristi Underwood single to grab a 1-0 lead. Turnipseed had led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on Holly Hazelwood's (pictured) sacrifice bunt. 

The Panthers got two unearned runs in the fifth inning; off two throwing errors by the Lady Scots to take a 3-0 lead.  Pinch-runner Leah Flowers scored on a throwing error by the catcher as Kim Woodard was attempting to steal second base. Woodard was credited with her 50th career stolen base. She eventually scored as Jennifer Knight got to first on a fielding error.

Maryville threatened in the sixth inning. The Lady Scots pushed across a run and had runners on second and third with two outs. Panther starter Amanda Daniel (14-8) struck out the final batter of the inning to end the threat.

The Panthers closed out the scoring with two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Valeree Williams (pictured) drove in both runs in the sixth with a double. Knight hit a two-run home run down the left field line in the seventh for a 7-1 lead.

Daniel had four strikeouts in pitching her 14th complete game of the season.  She is just six strikeouts shy of the single-season record. 

Offensively, the Panthers were led by Williams, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.  Five other players had two hits each for the Panthers, who had 15 hits. Turnipseed is three stolen bases shy of tying the single-season steals record. She was 2-for-4 with two runs score and a stolen base.

The Panthers will play Monday for the GSAC Championship game against the Piedmont-Maryville winner.  Game time is scheduled for noon.