MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Second-ranked LaGrange topped Maryville 3-1 on Friday to clinch the USA South's regular season top seed. The Panthers (30-3, 15-1 USA South) reached 30 wins for the second straight season.
The Panthers will be the top seed for next week's USA South Tournament that will be held at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. It is the first time LC is seeded first in a conference tournament since 2010, which was the last year the Panthers reached the NCAA tournament.
Ryan Broaderick (7-0) pitched 6-1/3 innings to stay perfect on the season. He gave up a run and four hits, while walking just one and struck out nine. Jonathan Fleckenstein closed out the game to get his second save.
The Panthers got a run in the second inning and another in the fifth to go up 2-0. Joe Pradat's sacrifice bunt brought home Blane Swift with the first run. James Poropatic scored on Casey Bell's ground out for the second run. Leading 2-1, LC added an insurance run in the ninth with the help of two Scot errors.
The Panthers and the Scots conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday.
