LaGrange used a big first inning in route to a 9-4 win over Methodist in the second game of a USA South doubleheader Saturday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. The visiting Monarchs took the first game 9-3.
The Panthers (13-23, 9-14 USA South) scored seven runs in the first inning, their biggest inning of the season, and built a 9-1 lead after three innings.
Tyler Brooks (2-3) pitched a career-high eight innings to get the win. Brooks gave up all four runs, but only one was earned. He walked two, struck out four and scattered eight hits.
The Panthers backed Brooks' pitching with a 17-hit attack. Casey Bell had four hits and drove in three runs. Cain Sauls had three hits, while Alec Redden, Adam Terrinoni, Keith Sims and James Maxwell all had two hits. Sims also had three RBIs.
The Panthers knocked out Monarch starter Darin Salter with the first inning explosion. Salter entered the game with a 6-0 record and 1.90 earned run average.
Methodist (22-15, 15-10 USA South) got an unearned run off Brooks in the top of the inning for a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Bell, Sauls and Redden loaded the bases withh one out with three straight singles. Chad Pigg reached on a fielder's choice as Bell scored the tying run.
Terrinoni followed with a run-scoring double, then Sims drove in two more runs with another double. Jim Reed, batting for the second time in the inning, was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Bell followed with his second hit of the inning, driving in two more runs for a 7-1 lead.
The Panthers added a run in the second and another in the third to build their lead to 9-1. Sims had an RBI single in the second and Bell drove in the other run with his third hit of the game.
The Monarchs got three runs in the eighth inning to make it 9-4. Blake Schuck struck out two in throwing a scoreless ninth inning.
In the first game, Zach Tatham (2-3) pitched 5-1/3 innings in taking the loss for the Panthers. He gave up six runs, four earned and surrendered 11 hits.
Daniel Garrett threw 2-2/3 scoreless innings. Chris Dunn gave up three runs in the ninth.
Redden had two of the Panthers' five hits. Maxwell and Alex Murfin had RBI singles in the ninth inning for the 9-3 final.
The Panthers close out the season Sunday against the Monarchs. It will be Senior Day for the Panthers' Kyle Nerbonne and Gage Mooney.
