LaGrange came from behind twice to beat Rhodes 7-6 at the Firehouse Classic hosted by Huntingdon College on Friday. The win kept the Panthers (4-0) perfect on the season, while spoiling the season opener for the Lynx (0-1).
"This was a huge come from behind win!" said Coach David Kelton. "(Andrew) Weekley did a great job on the mound all game long. He had real good control of all of his pitches. Weekley really competed well and put us in a great position to win.
"Billy Peatross got a big pinch hit RBI that started the comeback for us. I'm very proud of how our guys came back late in the game. A great team win!"
Chad Pigg's run-scoring single drove in the go-ahead run to cap a three-run eighth inning for the Panthers. Pigg had three hits and three RBIs in the game.
Rhodes had taken a 6-4 lead on Nick Bosma's grand slam home run in the top of the eighth. The Lynx loaded the bases with no outs off reliever Josh Smith. Jonathan Fleckenstein came on for Smith and struck out the first two batters he faced before Bosma connected for his home run.
LC answered in the bottom of the inning. Jackson Patrick started the inning by reaching on an error. Peatross doubled to left center and Patrick came all the way around to score to make it a one-run game.
Casey Bell, who was 4-for-4 in the game, drove in pinch-runner Braden Shealy to tie the game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Pigg's hit brought in Jame Poropatic to put the Panthers back up 7-6.
Fleckenstein retired the Lynx in order in the ninth to pick up his second straight win in relief. He pitched 4-1/3 innings on Wednesday in the 10-9 victory at Berry.
Rhodes' Blake Gauben and LaGrange's Andrew Weekley had a pitcher's duel through six innings.
Cain Sauls' sacrifice fly gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Lynx got an unearned run without benefit of a hit in the fourth to tie the game.
Weekley did not give up a hit until the fifth inning. He surrendered a run in the seventh, which was his final inning.
The Panthers came back with three runs in their half of the seventh to go back up 4-2. Pigg's two out double to left center drove in the tying and go-ahead run. He scored on Blane Swift's RBI hit.
The Panthers continue play in the tournament Saturday against Southwestern (Texas) at 11 a.m. EST.
