LAGRANGE, Ga.—The bats popped early for Agnes Scott Softball as the Scotties used the long ball to earn a split with LaGrange in a USA South Conference doubleheader. Home runs in big moments from first-years KayLeigh Fitzgerald (Dalton, Ga.) and Michaela Dailey (Smith's Station, Ala.) helped the Scotties power past the Panthers 13-1 in the opener before LaGrange responded with an 8-0 answer in the series finale.
Agnes Scott moves to 5-23 overall and 2-8 in conference play. The Scotties matches their 2018 win total with the big victory and more importantly, earned at least a series split for the third consecutive matchup. LaGrange now sits at 7-11 and 3-7 respectively.
Game One
The Scotties put the pressure on immediately with Fitzgerald cleaning up two bases runners with a one-out home run over the left field fence. A 3-0 lead was not enough for the Scotties, who kept the rally alive with bases-loaded RBI from Jessica Costero (Miami, Fla.) and Alexei Young (McDonough, Ga.) to push the advantage to five runs before LaGrange could get the third out.
Agnes Scott padded its lead with RBI singles from Fitzgerald and Young in the second and third innings before the Panthers were able to respond.
LaGrange did just that with a run-scoring single from Taylor Long (Gray, Ga.), but it was signal the last time the Panthers would cross home plate.
The Scotties really broke the game open with six more runs in the fifth, capped by a grand slam from Dailey. Tiara White (Sinton, Texas) and Valerie Rivas (Nashville, Tenn.) also had run-scoring hits in the frame.
Kayla Spinks (Social Circle, Ga.) earned a win for the second time in three starts, striking out three and only allowing two hits.
Game Two
LaGrange answered back strongly in the final game of the day, equaling Agnes' first inning total from the first game with five runs.
A Scottie offense that piled up 12 hits in game one was held quiet in the second, as LaGrange starter Emsley Smith struck out four Scotties while only scattering three hits across five scoreless innings.
The Panthers put the game away in the fourth inning with three more runs and held off the Scotties in the top of the fifth to even the series.
What's Next?
Agnes Scott heads to Berea, Kentucky to take on the Mountaineers in another USA South series on Saturday afternoon.