LaGrange opened its 2017 season with a 10-3 win over visiting Sewanee at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium on Saturday.
The Panthers (1-0) used a six-run first inning to propel them to the win. They loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of hits and an error. Cain Sauls cleared the bases with a double to left center for a 3-0 lead. Chad Pigg, James Poropatic, and Tavin Thompson added run-scoring singles in the inning to make it 6-0.
The Tigers (0-1) cut the deficit in half with a run in the in the third and two more in the fourth off starter Ryan Broaderick. Josh Smith relieved Broaderick and threw four scoreless innings to get the win. Dax Winningham retired the Tigers in order to close out the game in the ninth.
The Panthers padded their lead with three runs in their half of the fifth. Kyle Gutowski's RBI double in the sixth provided the 10-3 final.
LC finished with 12 hits in the game. Thompson had three hits, while Pigg and Poropatic had two each.
The two teams conclude their weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m.
