Panthers open GSAC schedule with doubleheader sweep of Maryville
March 29, 2008

LaGrange rolled past Maryville to open its GSAC schedule Saturday at Cleaveland Field. The Panthers swept the doubleheader by scores of 12-3 and 13-7 to improve to 14-10 overall. The Fighting Scots, coached by former LaGrange assistant Daniel Washburn, dropped to 10-16 on the season.

The Panthers rode the pitching of Cody Belt and Patrick Langley a career-game in the first game. Belt (4-2) made the longest start by a Panther starter this season. He pitched eight innings, allowing only one earned run, walked two and struck out three. Langley tied a career-high with six RBIs as part of the Panthers' 16-hit attack.

 Michael Sims had four hits, including a double and a triple, and scored five runs in the first game. Blake Allen had three hits, including a double, while Seth Tucker also had a double included in his two hits.

The Panthers jumped on starter and loser Zach Smigiel (2-4) in the first inning. The Panthers started with three straight hits from Sims, Tucker and Langley. Langley's hit drove in Sims and Tucker for the game's first two runs. Langley came around to score on Allen's two-out single to right center for a 3-0 lead.

The Panthers added a run in the second inning and another in the fourth to up their lead to 5-0. Maryville picked up two runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 5-2. The Panthers came back with two runs in their half of the sixth to make it 7-2.  Korey Ison had a RBI single in the inning.

The Panthers put the game out of reach in the seventh inning with four runs to go up 11-2. Tucker drove in the inning's first two runs with a triple to right center. Langley added a sacrifice fly for another run and Luis Perez's base hit finished the inning. Langley drove in his sixth run of the game in the eighth inning to make it 12-2.

The Fighting Scots got a run in the ninth inning off reliever Jonathan Chapman for the 12-3 final. Chapman allowed three hits while striking out two in the inning.

In the second game, the bottom part of the batting order got the Panthers going. In the second inning, Allen doubled to right center with one out. Jesse Brown was hit by a pitch and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Jimmy Statler followed with a two-run double that hit halfway up the left field fence for a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers increased their lead to 5-0 in the third inning. Cory Matticola's sacrifice fly drove in Tucker, who had led off the inning with an infield single. Allen and Statler added RBI singles later in the inning.

Leading 5-2, the Panthers chased starter and loser Riley Finch (3-5) in the fourth inning. The Panthers banged out five straight hits to start the inning, scoring four runs to go up 9-2. Langley drove in the first run with a single. Matticola followed with a two-run double and Robbie Shelton a run-scoring double to knock Finch from the game.

Maryville got two runs back in the top of the fifth inning off starter Nick Vitale (3-1) to make it 9-4. Vitale allowed four runs in five innings. He gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out three.

The Panthers answered with two runs in their half of the fifth and two more in the sixth to build a 13-4 lead. Matticola had a double in the fifth to drive in his fourth run of the game. Sims forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk and Tucker drove in the final run for the Panthers with a sacrifice fly.

David Tillis pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Vitale. Curt Ellison allowed three runs in an inning of work in the eighth. Kegan Bailey threw a scoreless ninth inning to close out the game.

The Panthers finished the second game with 19 hits. Langley led the way with three hits, including a double. The Panthers had six players with two hits each.

The two teams wrap-up the three-game series on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.