Tigers Softball Wins Two at Lauren Giddings Classic
The Brenau Golden Tigers softball team faced two non-conference opponents in the 2nd annual Lauren Giddings Classic, squaring off against Penn State-Behrend and Agnes Scott College (Ga).
In the opener, the Golden Tigers scored five early runs to take a commanding lead. Home runs by Andrea Bentley (Augusta, Ga.) and Lauren Parten (Hartwell, Ga.) set the tone offensively, while the pitching duo of Anna Maness (Seagrove, NC) and Taylor Causey (Covington, Ga.) combined for seven shutout innings to keep the Lions offense in check.
Senior Taylor Kelly (Toccoa, Ga.) went 2-3 with an RBI, while Bentley and Parten's power outburst combined for the other five runs batted in.
Causey, pitching four strong innings, earned her first career win.
In the second game, the Brenau offense continued to hit, mashing host Agnes Scott 15-4 in five innings.
Senior Tiffany Schandera (Columbus, Ga.) and Liz Schneider (Smyrna, Ga.) continued the power surge, both hitting homeruns to pace the Golden Tigers. Junior Katie Bolin (Danielsville, Ga.) went 4-4, while Lauren Parten continued to swing a hot bat, knocking in two RBIs.
The Brenau offense pounded out 14 hits, while holding the Scots to only four hits and four unearned runs.
Anna Maness captured her fifth win of the season. The senior pitched the entire five innings, giving up only four hits and no earned runs while striking out seven.
Coach Devon Thomas noted that the weather played a factor in his team's performance saying, "Our defense struggled with sub-30 degree temperatures, but despite the cold weather, I was impressed with how well we hit the ball."
After the day's sweep, Brenau improved its record to 7-2.
The Golden Tigers will face Wesleyan College (Ga.) on the second day of the classic. First pitch is Sunday at noon.