LaGrange got great pitching and timely hitting to upend fifth-ranked Christopher Newport 3-1 on Friday in Williamson Stadium at Cleaveland Field. The Panthers, with their fourth straight win, evened their season record at 8-8 and upped their USA South record to 7-6.
The Panthers' Drew Williamson (1-2) outdueled Christopher Newport (15-3-1, 11-2 USA South) ace Austin Chrismon. Williamson pitched into the seventh inning, allowing a run on four hits. Chrismon went the distance for the Captains, scattering eight hits and giving up a season-high with the three runs by the Panthers.
The Panthers grabbed an early 2-0 lead with a run in the first inning and another in the second. Jon Brock led off the first with the first of his two doubles. Brock moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Key and scored as Brent Kinsey grounded out to second.
In the second inning the Panthers put the first two batters on base on a single by Cody Muren and a walk to Kyle Nerbonne. Muren advanced to third as Nerbonne was forced at second on Blake Schuck's grounder. Brandon Espinosa then laced a two-out line drive to center to make it 2-0.
Williamson worked out of jams in the second and third inning. The Captains had runners on second and third in the second with two outs but Williamson struck out Curtis Pittman to end the inning.
The Captains ran themselves out of an inning in the third. With a runner on second and one out, Curtis Steele hit a grounder to Josh Shiver at third. Shiver tagged the runner out coming from second in a rundown, then threw to Kinsey covering second to get Steele for the third out of the inning.
The Panthers extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. Brock led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center. He moved over to third on a ground out, then scored on a wild pitch from Chrismon.
Henry Jacobs relieved Williamson in the seventh after the first two Captains reached on walks. He allowed only one run in the inning, stranding runners at second and third after getting Steel to pop out Kinsey at first base.
Tyler Brooks came on for Jacobs in the eighth and closed out the win. He retired six of the seven batters he faced to record his team-leading third save of the year.
The two teams play the second game of their weekend series Saturday at 2 p.m.
