ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Cain Sauls had a career game in leading LaGrange to a split of its USA South doubleheader against N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday at Bauer Field.
Sauls drove in six runs with two doubles and his first collegiate home run as the Panthers (13-18, 12-11 USA South) won the second game 16-2 in seven innings. The host Bishops (9-23, 7-19 USA South) took the first game 7-2.
In the second game, the Panthers had 16 hits with nine going for extra bases. Chris Laye had two doubles and a triple and four RBIs. Ethan Nieman had a pair of doubles, while Alex Murfin added a triple.
Tied 1-1 after an inning, the Panthers broke the game open with a six-run second inning. Casey Bell drove in the first two runs with a single. Laye's triple brought home two more runs and he scored on an error on the play to make it 7-1.
Sauls had a two-run double in the fifth inning and hit his home run in the seventh with a man aboard. With the 16 runs, the Panthers tied their season high, set against Piedmont on Feb. 14.
Eric Morell pitched the first six innings to improve his record to 5-4. He allowed an unearned run, walked three and struck four.
In the first game, the Panthers were held to five hits. Alec Redden had a double and an RBI. Sauls had a run-scoring single, while Jim Reed added a double.
Zach Tatham (3-4) pitched 4-1/3 innings and took the loss. He allowed all seven runs, four of those were earned. Daniel Garret did not give up a run in 2-2/3 innings and Josh Bricker pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The two teams conclude their series Sunday.
