By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – Coming off of an epic 2022 campaign that saw them win their fifth straight USA South title and first ever regional and super regional championships, LaGrange (0-0, 0-0 CCS) baseball begins a new era in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) by taking on a stacked field at the BSC Spring Classic from February 17-19.
The Panthers will open with No. 21/24 East Texas Baptist (2-1, 0-0 ASC) at 5:30 p.m. EST on Friday, February 17 before a colossal showdown with host and fellow top five team No. 4 Birmingham-Southern (2-1, 0-0 SAA) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 18. They will then close the tournament with South Athletic Association (SAA) runner-up Millsaps (2-1, 0-0 SAA) at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 19.
While LaGrange is opening the 2023 campaign following a 44-9 season a year ago, each of their opponents come in at 2-1 having played on the opening weekend. ETBU took a series from Millikin, posting 4-2 and 5-4 victories in the first two before falling 3-2 in the finale from February 10-11.
BSC took a similar path on those dates, downing No. 3 Trinity (Texas) 3-0 and 7-6 and then fell 6-2 in San Antonio, Texas. Meanwhile, Millsaps knocked off LeTourneau by 7-5 and 5-2 scores before dropping the finale 14-9.
SERIES HISTORY
The Panthers have never faced East Texas Baptist but have long histories against BSC and Millsaps. All-time they are 8-21 against Birmingham-Southern in a series that dates back only to 2010. BSC won 12 straight from 2012 through 2018 but LaGrange has won the most recent meeting by an 8-2 score on March 23, 2022. Millsaps holds a 22-13 advantage dating back to 2003 with the Majors winning seven straight from 2007-10. The clubs have split the last four meetings, however, with LC claiming a 10-3 victory on February 11, 2022.
MEDIA
Fans can follow all the games with live stats and live video and full recaps will be available on www.LaGrangePanthers.com, the official online home of Panthers Athletics, following each day's action.
2/17 vs. East Texas Baptist – Live Stats I Live Video
2/18 vs. Birmingham-Southern – Live Stats I Live Video
2/19 vs. Millsaps – Live Stats I Live Video
Scouting The LaGrange College Panthers (2022)
Record: 44-9, 15-3 USA South
Last Time Out: L, 8-1 vs. Eastern Connecticut State on June 6 (National Championship)
Streak: One Loss
Quick Links
Baseball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Batting Leaders
Batting Average: Joe Ruth – .443
Slugging Percentage: Joe Ruth – .671
Hits: Joe Ruth – 109
Doubles: Joe Ruth – 22
Triples: Erves McKinley – 9
Homeruns: Joe Ruth – 10
RBIs: Joe Ruth – 83
Runs: Erves McKinley – 91
Steals: Joe Ruth – 10
Individual Pitching Leaders
ERA: Baley Coleman – 3.41
Wins: Baley Coleman – 11
Opposing Batting Average: Baley Coleman – .235
Strikeouts: Baley Coleman – 96
Innings: Baley Coleman – 97.2
Team Batting Statistics
Batting Average: .339
Slugging Percentage: .380
Hits: 41
Doubles: 3
Triples: 1
Homeruns: 0
RBIs: 17
Runs: 18
Steals: 5
Team Pitching Statistics
ERA: .446
Opposing Batting Average: .341
Strikeouts: .258
Innings: 460.1
Scouting The No. 21/24 East Texas Baptist Tigers
Record: 2-1, 0-0
Last Time Out: L, 3-2 vs. Millikin on February 11
Streak: One Loss
Quick Links
Baseball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Batting Leaders
Batting Average: Ben Lea, Jake Miller – .333
Slugging Percentage: Ben Lea – .889
Hits: Ben Lea, Jake Miller, Brett Wagner – 3
Doubles: Ben Lea – 2
Triples: Jordan Hara – 1
Homeruns: Ben Lea, Jake Miller, Brett Wagner – 1
RBIs: Joe Ruth – 83
Runs: Jake Miller – 3
Steals: Jacob Evangelista, Jase Jones – 2
Individual Pitching Leaders
ERA: Trent Clark, Sayers Collins, Jagger Neely – 0.00
Wins: Sayers Collins, Cole Godkin – 1
Opposing Batting Average: Robert Croft, Peyton Miller – .000
Strikeouts: Sayers Collins – 8
Innings: Jagger Neely – 7.0
Team Batting Statistics
Batting Average: .198
Slugging Percentage: .383
Hits: 16
Doubles: 4
Triples: 1
Homeruns: 3
RBIs: 11
Runs: 11
Steals: 6 (6-of-7)
Team Pitching Statistics
ERA: .288
Opposing Batting Average: .213
Strikeouts: 17
Innings: 25.0
Scouting The No. 4/4 Birmingham Southern College Panthers (2022)
Record: 2-1, 0-0 SAA
Last Time Out: L, 6-2 at No. 3 on February 11
Streak: One Loss
Quick Links
Baseball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Batting Leaders
Batting Average: Ian Hancock, Jacob Zito – .333
Slugging Percentage: Andrew Dutton – .385
Hits: Andrew Dutton, Ian Hancock – 4
Doubles: Noah Best, Andrew Dutton – 1
Triples: N/A – 0
Homeruns: N/A – 0
RBIs: Cam McNearney – 3
Runs: Andrew Dutton – 3
Steals: Cam McNearney, Eli Steadman, Jacob Zito – 2
Individual Pitching Leaders
ERA: Joey White – 0.00
Wins: Connor Adams, Joey White – 1
Opposing Batting Average: Joey White – .042
Strikeouts: Connor Adams, Hanson McCown – 4
Innings: Joey White – 7.2
Team Batting Statistics
Batting Average: .228
Slugging Percentage: .248
Hits: 23
Doubles: 2
Triples: 0
Homeruns: 0
RBIs: 8
Runs: 12
Steals: 8 (8-of-10)
Team Pitching Statistics
ERA: 4.00
Opposing Batting Average: .238
Strikeouts: 21
Innings: 27.0
Scouting The Millsaps College Majors
Record: 2-1, 0-0 SAA
Last Time Out: L, 14-9 vs. LeTourneau on February 11
Streak: One Loss
Quick Links
Baseball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Batting Leaders
Batting Average: Case Page – .583
Slugging Percentage: Case Page – .750
Hits: Case Page – 7
Doubles: Case Page – 2
Triples: N/A – 0
Homeruns: Jackson Ware – 1
RBIs: Jackson Ware – 3
Runs: Bradley Pelle – 4
Steals: Jackson Ware – 2
Individual Pitching Leaders
ERA: Four Players – 0.00
Wins: Will Cook, Jackson Hood – 1
Opposing Batting Average: Stewart Bonnecaze – .000
Strikeouts: Wil Wood – 8
Innings: Jackson Hood – 5.2
Team Batting Statistics
Batting Average: .343
Slugging Percentage: .429
Hits: 36
Doubles: 6
Triples: 0
Homeruns: 1
RBIs: 17
Runs: 21
Steals: 2
Team Pitching Statistics
ERA: 7.20
Opposing Batting Average: .320
Strikeouts: 36
Innings: 25.0
