The Greensboro College softball team (16-9 overall, 10-4 USA South) busted out the bats in a big way on Friday in a doubleheader sweep of LaGrange (11-13 overall, 6-10 USA South). The Pride pounded out 13 hits in a 7-4 game one win and followed it up with an eight hit attack in a 5-1 victory in the finale.
Greensboro put up three runs in the first inning on a RBI double by Taylor Freeman and two-run home run by Reihle Kash. The Panthers bounced back to tie the game in the top of the second, before The Pride regained the lead with two runs of their own.
Freeman knocked in both runs, singling home Chelsea Brewer and Kierstin Mckenna for a 5-3 lead. Sarah Tompkins added to the lead in the third with a solo blast to lead off the frame.
Tompkins would score again in the fifth, taking advantage of a wild pitch to move home. LaGrange would post one run in the top of the seventh but would climb no closer in the 7-4 setback.
Tompkins led all hitters with a 3-3 performance at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Mckenna, Brewer, Freeman and Connolly also had two hits apiece. Freeman had a team best three RBI.
Shelby Drummonds stayed perfect in the circle, earning the win in 4.0 innings of relief for starter Kelsey Sanfilippo.
The Greensboro bats were slow out of the gate in game two, but came through in the fourth with three runs on four hits. Jackie Nicholson provided the first two on a single up the middle, and was driven home on a triple by Rae Hall to put The Pride in front 3-0.
Rae Hall extended the lead in the sixth with a two-run homerun for a 5-0 advantage. The Panthers would again score a single run in the top of the seventh but came up short again 5-1.
Brewer, Nicholson and Rae Hall each finished with two hits apiece. Kash and Tompkins also had a hit for the game. Rae Hall led the team with three RBI, while Nicholson chipped in two.
Hannah Pennell picked up the win with 5.0 scoreless innings, with Nicholson getting the save in 2.0 innings of work.
Greensboro will be back in action on Saturday against Piedmont for Senior Day. The doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club/Salvation Army Field with seniors Pennell and Kash being recognized between games.
Game 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
LaGrange (11-12) 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 8 0
Greensboro (15-9) 3 2 1 0 1 0 X 7 13 1
PITCHING
Win: S. Drummonds (4-0) – Greensboro
Loss: Dani Gravett (5-6) – LaGrange
LAGRANGE BATTING
2B: none
3B: none
HR: none
GREENSBORO BATTING
2B: T. Freeman; S. Connolly
3B: J. Nicholson
HR: Reihle Kash; S. Tompkins
Game 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
LaGrange (11-13) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 0
Greensboro (16-9) 0 0 0 3 0 2 X 5 8 1
PITCHING
Win: H. Pennell (7-4) – Greensboro
Loss: Kara Patters (0-3) – LaGrange
Save: J. Nicholson (1) – Greensboro
LAGRANGE BATTING
2B: none
3B: Courtney Bes
HR: none
GREENSBORO BATTING
2B: none
3B: Rae Hall
HR: Rae Hall