Maryville blanked LaGrange 2-0 in first game of a USA South series Friday night at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. The loss left the Panthers 2-5 in conference play and 12-11 overall.
Maryville (18-3, 4-3 USA South) got a run in the fifth and another in the sixth off Panther starter Richie Post (2-2) and made the lead stand up. Post went six innings, allowing the two runs, walked one and struck out five. Gibson Bittner threw three shutout innings in relief of Post. The Panthers left the bases loaded in the fifth and stranded runners at second and third in the seventh. LC was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the game. Three Scot pitchers combined to hold the Panthers to four hits. Anthony Rodriquez (1-2) went six innings to get the win. Zach McGee pitched the final 1-1/3 innings to pick up his second save.
The two teams play Game 2 of their series Saturday at 2 p.m.
