COLUMBUS, Ga. - LaGrange dropped two games on the first day of the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex on Friday. The Panthers (3-7) lost 8-2 to Tufts and 9-1 in six innings to LeTourneau.

The 24-team tournament features nine teams in the NFCA Division III Preseason Top 25 Poll. LaGrange is one of four Collegiate Conference of the South teams in the field. The Panthers are joined by fifth-ranked Belhaven, No. 25 Huntingdon, and Piedmont.

Game 1: Tufts 8, LaGrange 2
Sixth-ranked Tufts (1-0) is coming off a 39-10 record in 2024 and a trip to the NCAA Division III World Series. Friday, the Jumbos used three home runs, two by Heaven Olivia, to power past the Panthers.

Olivia's two-out two-run home run to left in the top of the first inning staked the Jumbos to a quick 2-0 lead. The Panthers cut the deficit to a run in their half of the second.

Zoe Veres led off the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Hannah Barnett. Barnett moved up when Kayla Helms was hit by a pitch. Addie Grace Dennis drove in Barnett with a sharp single to right field to make it 2-1.

Olivia and Kerriann Slayton jump started a four-run third inning for Tufts, with back-to-back solo home runs. The Jumbos added two more runs in the inning to  build a 6-1 lead. The Panthers got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Alexa Gonzalez led off with a base hit and later scored as Helms reached on a two-out error. Tufts added a run in the fifth and another in the sixth for the 8-2 final.

Claire Chamberlain (0-3) took the loss for the Panthers in the circle. Jenna Yeary went the final five innings for LC, allowing one run.

Game 2: LeTourneau 9, LaGrange 1
LeTourneau (5-5) broke open the game with back-to-back three run rallies in the fifth and sixth innings to knock off the Panthers.

The Yellow Jackets scored twice in the first inning off Chamberlain (0-4). The Panthers came back in their half of the inning. Cannon Ramsey kept the inning going by reaching on a two-out error. Ramsey stole second and came around to score on an RBI single by Gonzalez. 

The Panthers put two runners on in the next two innings, only to have double plays end the rallies. LeTourneau added a run  in the fourth, then put the game away with the three-run innings in the fifth and sixth.

Chamberlain pitched four innings, allowing five runs. Maddie Chauvin surrendered four runs, two earned, in two innings of work.

Up Next: The Panthers start the second day of the tournament Saturday against Gettysburg at 10 a.m., followed by Spalding at 12:30 p.m.