Panthers split Millsaps in Home Opener

March 11, 2007

The LaGrange Collge softball team split its home opener Sunday against visiting Millsaps, defeating the Majors, 6-0 in the first game while dropping a 4-3 decision in the second half of the twin bill.  The Panthers are now 9-5 on the season while Millsaps stands at 2-13 overall.

In the first game, Amanda Daniel (5-2) pitched seven innings of shutout ball, picking up her fifth win of the season.  In her seventh career shutout, Daniel (pictured), struck out two and gave up six hits against the Majors.

The Panthers started strong with a four-run first inning and never looked back as Kim Woodard led off with a walk and scored off a Kellee Scandrett single to right field to get on the board. 

After Dicie Holland and Amanda Jones got on base with walks, Jennifer Knight crushed a three-run double over the centerfielder's head as Scandrett, Holland and Jones scored to make it 4-0.

In the fifth, Jones scored on Valeree Williams' single to right field.  Holly Hazelwood scored the final run in the sixth to close out the scoring for the Panthers.  Daniel closed the game for her 22nd career complete game.

Scandrett went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Panthers.  Knight was 1-for-3 with three RBI's.

In the second game, Millsaps started the same way LaGrange did in the previous game, scoring two runs in the first to take a 2-0 lead.

Sam Hill scored the next two Millsaps runs, with one in the third inning and another in the fifth to give the Majors a 4-0 lead.
 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers rallied, as Woodard led off the inning with an infield single.  Chloe Turnipseed reached on another infield hit, as Woodard beat the throw to second.  A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position.  Kristi Underwood reached on a fielder's choice as Woodard survived a run-down  to get back to third.

With the bases loaded and one out, Holland singled through the left side scoringing Woodard (pictured), and Turnipseed to close the gap to 4-2. 

Knight was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Two wild pitches later, pinch runner Emily Foster scored and Holland advanced to third, making the score 4-3 with the tying run on third.

The Panthers could not punch in the run, as Jones and Haleigh Kellar both popped out to end the game.

Woodard and Holland led the Panthers with two hits apiece.  Woodard passes Jennifer Brown for fourth-place all-time with 149 hits for her career.  Megan Henry (4-2) struck out three in five innings.  Hayley Hanson pitched two innings in relief without allowing a run and struck out one.

The Panthers travel to Florence, S.C. to play in the Methodist College Early Bird Softball Tournament on March 16-17.