ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - LaGrange hung on for a 6-5 win over 14th-ranked N.C. Wesleyan in the first game of the USA South Tournament championship series Sunday at Bauer Field. The Panthers are one win from their fourth straight tournament title. The best-of-three series continues Monday at 12 p.m. followed by the if necessary game at 3 p.m.
The Panthers (23-7) had to survive a N.C. Wesleyan (31-7) ninth inning rally to secure their program record 15th straight win. It was also LC's 15th tournament victory in a row.
LC led 6-3 with closer Spencer Douches on the mound. The Bishops loaded the bases with no outs on two hits and a walk. A wild pitch brought in a run to make it 6-4. Douches came back to strike out Brad Pennington for the first out.
Jackson Hobbs' sacrifice fly made it a one-run game. Jackson Murray walked on a full count to keep the inning going. Douches got Nate Hibbs on a called third strike on his 37th pitch of the inning to end the game and pick up his sixth save of the season.
The Panthers never trailed in the game. They took a 3-0 lead off USA South Pitcher of the Year Derrick Carter (8-1) in the first with the help of two Bishop errors. LC loaded the bases with two outs on an error, a base hit, and a walk. Trey Pearce reached on the second error of the inning, allowing Joe Ruth to score. Jack Layrisson, who had four hits in the game, beat the shift with a two-run single to left to cap the inning.
The Bishops got a run back off starter Baley Coleman (8-3) in the second. The Panthers upped their lead to 4-1 in the fifth. Ruth led off the inning with a single. He stole second and moved over to third on a ground out. E.J. Churchich dropped a single into right center to score Ruth.
In the bottom of the sixth, N.C. Wesleyan scored twice to draw within a run. Drifton Padgett's two-run single made it 4-3. Brett Caneega releived Coleman with runners on the corners and one out. The freshman struck out the next two batters to end the threat and preserve the lead.
LC answered with turned out to be two very big insurance runs. Cael Chatham had a ground rule double to center with one out. E.J. Churchich followed with another double to left to drive in Chatham. Churchich moved over to third and scored on Trey Pearce's opposite field base for a 6-3 lead.
Coleman allowed three runs in 5-1/3 innings, scattering nine hits, walking three, and striking out three. Caneega finished his 2-1/3 innings of work without giving up a hit and striking out three.
Layrisson's four hits led the Panthers' 11-hit attack. Chatham, Churchich, and Ruth all had two hits.
For continuing coverage of Panther athletics, stay up to date with our website and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
