The Covenant College softball team started conference play on Monday afternoon against LaGrange, looking to begin this part of the season with two wins. The Panthers had other ideas, using a strong offense to win both games.
Game 1 Final: Covenant 2, LaGrange 14 Both teams scored in the first inning with Gracie Lacle driving in Isabella Duran with an RBI triple down the right field line for Covenant's first run.
The Scots and the Panthers were stopped offensively the next two innings, keeping the score tied at one.
An infield single that included heads up baserunning by the Panthers scored two runs in the fourth inning to give them the lead.
LaGrange added two more runs in the fifth inning using an RBI double to center field and an RBI double to left field.
The LaGrange offense exploded for nine runs in the seventh inning to take a 14-1 lead.
Helena Nagy delivered Covenant's second run, an RBI single to center field in the seventh inning.
Lauren Edgar pitched for the Scots in game one and recorded six strikeouts. Lacle (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) led Covenant with two hits. LaGrange outhit Covenant 19-5. Each team had two errors.
Game 2 Final: Covenant 8, LaGrange 18 A 2-RBI double by Olivia Stefl in the first inning for Covenant answered two runs that LaGrange scored to begin the game.
The Panthers started to pounce in the third inning with four runs, highlighted by a three-run home run to right-center field by Cannon Ramsey.
With the help of five hits and two errors from Covenant, the Panthers scored six runs to take a 12-3 lead in the fifth inning.
An outfield error from LaGrange scored two runs for the Scots in the bottom of the frame.
Later in the frame, Madison Taylor and Cailey Barnett recorded RBI singles to make it 12-7 and get back in the game for the moment.
The Panthers scored their 13th run in the sixth inning with an RBI single up the middle. To rule out any late Covenant rally, LaGrange brought home five runs in the seventh to put the score at 18-7.
Cassidi Phillips scored a run for the Scots with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field in their final at-bats.
Covenant moves to 13-17 all-time against LaGrange. Charley Clark pitched for the Scots.
Stefl (3-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB) led the Covenant offense, reaching base in all four at-bats. LaGrange outhit Covenant 4-3. LaGrange committed four errors while Covenant had three.
Covenant travels to Belhaven on Saturday for a conference doubleheader.