BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Head Coach Megan Curry earned her first BSC win on Wednesday as the Birmingham-Southern softball split with LaGrange in the Valentine's Day doubleheader.
Game 1
LaGrange struck early in the first inning, scoring two runs courtesy of an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. However, Katie Hart lit the Panther spark quickly with a lead-off walk and stolen base. Natalie Snow delivered an RBI ground ball, making it a one-run ball game.
In the bottom of the second, LaGrange freshman Cecilia Gonzalez unleashed a three-run home run that extended their lead to 5-1. Birmingham-Southern battled back in the bottom half of the inning, closing the deficit to just two runs with clutch RBI contributions from Isabella Furgason and Morgan McGuire.
Despite the Panther's resilience, LaGrange's offense answered once again in the fourth inning, notching four runs off five hits, including a pivotal two-run homer from Kelsea Moody. BSC's Isabella Furgason earned her second RBI of the game, a bases-loaded single, keeping Birmingham-Southern within reach.
Emma Jolley earned her first RBI of the day, driving in Leah Wood and narrowing LaGrange's lead. However, LaGrange tacked on another run in the top of the fifth, making it a 10-5 contest. Natalie Snow remained productive at the plate by adding another RBI to her stat line. 'Southern fell short in their comeback bid, succumbing to LaGrange by a final score of 10-6.
Game 2
Birmingham-Southern set the tone for Game 2 by scoring first. In the bottom of the second inning, Natalie Snow smoked an RBI gap shot double and Jaley Davis delivered a 2-out RBI single, propelling the Panthers to an early 2-0 lead. However, LaGrangequickly answered, evening the score at 2-2 in the top of the third inning.
Katie Hart, Emma Jolley, and Morgan McGuire executed back-to-back small ball efforts, manufacturing three crucial runs and earning their second lead of the game at 5-2.
Natalie Snow controlled the game in the circle after the 3rd, shutting down LaGrange's offense for four consecutive innings. Snow allowed no runs and just two hits. BSC added an insurance run in the fifth inning, making the final score 6-2 thanks to an RBI single from Olivia Trout.
Pitcher Natalie Snow and Head Coach Megan Curry secured their first career wins since joining the Hilltop.
Records
Birmingham-Southern 1-3 Overall, LaGrange 3-1 Overall
Up next
The Panthers are traveling to Demorest, Georgia for a Saturday doubleheader on February 17th at 10 a.m. & noon EST against Mount St. Joseph and Cal Lutheran.
