Seventh-ranked LaGrange topped Averett 5-2 on Monday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. The win was the eighth in a row for the Panthers (22-2, 11-1 USA South) and completed a three-game sweep of the Cougars (5-18, 1-8).
Freshman Richie Post (1-0) made his first start of the season. He allowed a run on four hits in five innings of work. Collin Barrett gave up an unearned run in four innings of relief to pick up his second save.
Averett's Cody Johnson (2-4) held the Panthers without a hit through three innings. The Panthers broke out with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to wipe out a 1-0 Cougar lead.
Billy Peatross's run-scoring single tied the game in the fourth. James Poropatic doubled with the bases loaded to drive in two more runs and a 3-1 lead.
In the fifth, Casey Bell legged out a double to lead off the inning. With two outs, Blane Swift homered over the left field fence to up LC's lead to 5-1. The home run was the first of the season for Swift.
The Panthers finished with nine hits. Swift also had a double to go with his home run, and scored a pair of runs. Jackson Patrick had two hits also.
The Panthers play at nationally-ranked Emory on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
