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After a bit of a slow start, LaGrange softball found its footing and blasted Shaw 5-4 in the opening game of the playoffs for the Grangers.

Ta’Niya Taylor opened the scoring when she reached him in an error in the bottom of the third followed by an Abby McGill one-run double that gave LaGrange a 2-0 lead heading to the fourth.

The Raiders cut the Granger lead in half in the fourth before tying the game in the fifth.

LaGrange would kick into gear from there, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Shelby Siggers hit a one-out one-run single to get the scoring party started. Carolyne Garcia followed with a one-run single of her own and Siggers eventually found her way home to score the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Shaw got another run back in the top of the sixth as a rally began to brew for the Raiders. An error allowed a run to score in the top of the seventh and cut the Granger lead to just one run.

The Raiders got the tying run as far as second base in the seventh inning, but could not bring her home.

Senior McKinsey Gaddy got the start on the mound and barely surrendered an inch to the Raiders. She allowed eight hits and just one earned run as her defense behind her committed four errors to keep Shaw in the game.

McGill, Siggers, Garcia, Hudson Wood, Kimberly Reynolds, Tatiana Dudley and Tatum Nation all had a hit each. Harlee Overton scored two runs to help lead the offense.

LaGrange will play super regional hosts Wayne County in a game that is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. but will likely start later than that. The Yellow Jackets beat Spaulding 13-0 in the opening game of the other half of the bracket. No. 1 pitcher Zoe Thompson will likely get the start on the mound for LaGrange in that game.