By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – No. 2/8 LaGrange (10-5, 0-0 CCS) would lead the entire way and pour it on in the late innings as they downed Chicago (2-3, 0-1 UAA) 7-1 on Sunday, March 12 in an NCAA Division III baseball game.
The teams would combine for just one hit over the first two and a half innings before the Panthers plated a pair of runs in the third. Freshman second baseman Jackson McElvy (Kennesaw, Ga.) reached on a one-out single, stole second and then came around to score when senior outfielder Rhett Mixon (Loganville, Ga.) ripped a double to left. They made it 2-0 when junior outfielder Noah Preuer (Peachtree City, Ga.) reached on an error to bring home Mixon.
It would remain quiet at the plate for both teams over the next two innings as neither recorded a hit. Chicago recorded a leadoff single in the sixth to snap that stretch but LaGrange was able to do something with their offense in the home half of the inning. Senior third baseman Joe Ruth (Chiefland, Fla.) quickly led it off with a double and freshman catcher Curt Bonner (Cartersville, Ga.) scored him with a single on the next play.
The Panthers would build on that 3-0 lead in the seventh as they scored three runs on as many hits, with a single and back-to-back groundouts. Another run in the eighth, that on a McElvy single, would put the game out of reach as LaGrange allowed a solo run in the top of the ninth before closing out the 7-1 victory.
The Maroons were held to just two hits on the day with Truman Pierson notching a double as part of a 1-for-2 day. Dominick Angellotti had the only other hit and Drew Bryan threw the first six innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven to suffer the loss.
McElvy led the way for LC as he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a pair of runs and a steal while Mixon was 2-for-4 with a run, walk, double and RBI. Bonner and Preuer had the other RBIs and junior starting pitcher Ethan Fry (Kennesaw, Ga.) was dominant on the hill. He threw a seven-inning complete game shutout that saw him ring up an impressive 13 strikeouts while allowing just one hit to two walks.
UP NEXT
LaGrange has a quick turnaround as they head to Atlanta, Georgia to take on Oglethorpe on Tuesday, March 14. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
