Incredible comeback leads to improbable win for Panthers
March 15, 2008

LaGrange made an incredible comeback for an improbable 18-17 win over Edgewood on Saturday at Cleaveland Field. The win gave the Panthers (9-8) a sweep of the two-game series against the Eagles (2-7).

LaGrange scored 12 runs in the seventh inning to tie the game and won it in the ninth on Patrick Langley's bases loaded single. The Panthers have scored 106 runs in winning five of their last six games.

Edgewood took a 17-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, after scoring five runs in its half of the inning. LaGrange responded with the biggest comeback in the program's 25-year history.

The Panthers sent 16 batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring 12 runs to tie the game at 17. The Eagles helped the Panthers with two errors in the inning that led to 11 unearned runs. The Panthers had seven hits in the inning, including three two-run doubles from Michael Sims, Patrick Langley and Cory Matticola. Matticola's hit scored Seth Tucker and Langley to tie the game.

Edgewood pounded out 21 hits in the game, but only one after the seventh inning. Jonathan Chapman threw a scoreless eighth inning. Cody Belt (2-2), who got the win, retired the Eagles in order for the first time in the game in the ninth.

In the bottom of the inning, leadoff batter Justin Snider was hit by a pitch and stole second. Sims walked and Tucker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Langley followed with his game-winning hit to score Snider.

Edgewood had started the game with four runs in the first inning for a 4-0 lead. LaGrange answered with three runs in its half of the first. Leading 6-4, the Eagles got three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to build a 12-4 lead. The Panthers got a run back in the sixth to trail 12-5 before the comeback in the seventh.

LaGrange finished the game with 19 hits. Sims, Tucker, Langley, Matticola and Blake Allen all had three hits. Tucker had four RBIs in the game, while Langley and Matticola drove in three runs each. Langley also scored five runs.

The Panthers play Bridgewater (Va.) at Piedmont College's Walker Field in Demorest on Monday. Game time is 7 p.m.