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Heartbreak for the Grangers. The LaGrange softball team had a win in the palm of their hands snatched away on Wednesday as the team fell 5-2 in extra innings of game one of the 3A state tournament. 

The Grangers led from the bottom of the second inning all the way to the top of the seventh when the Raiders tied the game up and forced extra innings.

The Grangers got off to a hot start when Hudson Wood smacked a ball that fell just short of the fence in the first inning, but was still able to drive home the opening run. LaGrange had a chance to add to its lead, but left runners stranded on first and second.

The Raiders quickly tied the game up with a solo homer in the top of the second, but the Grangers had an answer of their own. Ta’Niya Taylor drove in Shelby Siggers on a blooper single to give the Grangers the lead back.

LaGrange would leave a runner in scoring position in the second and third inning and that would prove to be the team’s downfall as the offense stalled out late. LaGrange did not have a hit over the final five innings with just one base runner, Taylor, who reached on an error in the fourth inning. 

West Laurens never really threatened to get back into the game until the seventh-inning rally that snatched momentum away from LaGrange. 

The Grangers had a chance to walk the game off, but Dakota McDaniel’s high-fly ball fell just short of going over the wall as a Raider defender made a leaping catch. 

McDaniel got the start in the circle and pitched all eight innings for the Grangers. 

Taylor and Wood led the team with two hits apiece while Siggers and McDaniel had one apiece. 

LaGrange will be forced to play in an elimination game on Thursday at 5 p.m against LaFayette in Columbus.