Panthers continue to roll

Published 9:35 pm Sunday, March 19, 2017

By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – The beat rolls on.

The LaGrange College Panthers continued to dismantle the opposition with a doubleheader sweep of USA South Averett on Sunday at Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium.

After winning the first game 12-2, LaGrange College finished the sweep with a 17-2 victory.

The Panthers, who have scored a combined 40 runs in their past three games, improved to 21-2 overall, and 10-1 in the USA South.

The Panthers are averaging nine runs per game, they have a team batting average of .341, and they have a team earned run average of 3.23.

Averett was no match for LaGrange College on Sunday.

The first game was close for a while, but LaGrange College broke it open with six runs in the fifth inning.

In the second game, the Panthers took control early with seven runs in the second inning, and they didn’t look back.

In Game 1, Tavin Thompson did a lot of damage from the leadoff position with three doubles and three runs scored.

Cain Sauls also had three doubles and three RBIs, and Casey Bell had two hits and three RBIs.

Blane Swift also had a three-hit game with an RBI, James Poropatic had a hit and three RBIs, Blake Butcher had two hits and an RBI, Jackson Patrick had two hits, and Joe Pradat had a hit and an RBI.

Ryan Broaderick (4-0) got the start and pitched six innings and allowed one earned run.

Dax Winningham threw two scoreless innings, and Adam DeWitt worked a scoreless ninth.

In Game 2, Butcher headlined an explosive offensive effort with four hits and five RBIs, and he drove in two of the runs with a triple in the sixth inning.

Bell had three hits with an RBI, Poropatic had two hits and four RBIs, Swift had two hits and two RBIs, Bell had three hits and an RBI, and Sauls, Dawson Weaver and Austin Jones each had a hit and an RBI.

Andrew Weekley (5-1) started and pitched six innings and gave up one run, and Stephen Coelho threw the seventh and final inning.

GOLF: LaGrange College delivered a stellar final round on Sunday to finish sixth in the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational.

The Panthers opened with a 299, and they shot a 293 on Saturday before closing with a 291.

Logan Lanier finished with a 68 on Sunday to move all the way up from 18th to fifth place.

Lanier posted scores of 74 and 73 the first two days.

Drew Duffie had rounds of 75, 72 and 75 to finish 21st, and Osborn Theam posted scores of 74, 80 and 72.

Next for the Panthers was Anthony Scolapio (76-76-76) and Eric Havixbeck (78-72-81).

SOFTBALL: Amber Arnold, a freshman from Troup High, hit a solo home run in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Averett.

That was one of the few highlights on the day for the Panthers, who lost the doubleheader 10-1 and 9-2.

In the first game, Arnold’s home run came in the bottom of the fourth inning of the 10-1 loss.

In the second game, Kelsey Dietz hit a solo home run for the Panthers, and Arnold had a hit and a walk.

OF NOTE: For photos from Sunday’s baseball games, check out Facebook.com/LDNSports