DECATUR, Ga. - Explosive innings were the story of the day for the Collegiate Conference of the South series between Agnes Scott College and LaGrange College, as each team rode big innings to victory. The Scotties (12-21, 5-7 CCS) took Game 1 after exploding for 8 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, taking out the Panthers, 10-2, in 6 innings. In Game 2, LaGrange (11-25, 5-7 CCS) tallied 5 runs in the top of the 3rd inning, and were able to hold off a late rally by the Scotties, taking Game 2, 5-3.
Game 1 Recap
In Game 1,
PresLee Hix got the offense for the Scotties started quickly in the bottom of the 1st inning, leading off the inning with a double to left center.
Colleen Thorson followed up with a single that scored Hix and the floodgates opened from there. By the end of the inning, 12 Scottie batters had come to the plate, and Hix had doubled and scored twice, starting and capping an 8-0 run for Agnes Scott.
The Scotties and Panthers would play the rest of the contest even, until the game concluded with
Mercedes Barker bunting to the pitcher with the deciding run on 3rd base, as Hix beat out the throw home to give the Scotties the 10-2, 6 inning, win. Hix finished the contest perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Thorson and
Bella Leonardi also had multi-hit games, with Thorson finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Leonardi would go 2-for-3 and score twice for the Scotties. Eight different Scotties also had a stolen base in the contest, as aggressive baserunning led to several Scottie runs and scoring opportunities.
On the mound,
Regan Hutto (6-8) picked up the victory, registering a complete game. Hutto yielded only 4 hits on the day, and struck out 3 Panther batters.
Game 2 Recap
In the second game of the contest, a two-out rally from the Panthers would prove the difference in the contest, as they would put runners on 2nd and 3rd and use three powerful at-bats to stretch to a 5-run lead in the third inning. They would be the only runs in the game for the Panthers, but Panther ace pitcher Claire Chamberlain (7-7) was able to hold on for the complete-game victory, scattering 8 hits and striking out two. The Scotties would rally for 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th and tack on another run in the 7th before Chamberlain was able to register the final out and pick up the victory.
For the Scotties, Barker and
Megan Smith both had two hits in the contest, and
Kilee Thomas had a hit, a walk, a stolen base and an RBI.
Bryn Greenwood suffered the loss on the mound, going 2.2 innings.
Amanda Barnes came in from the bullpen to pitch 4.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out 2 and scattering 5 hits.
The Scotties will not have long to rest, as they hit the field again on Sunday to take on #11 Huntingdon College in another CCS doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for Noon at Oakhurst Park in Decatur, Ga.