By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After dropping the first game of their NCAA Division III regional against Birmingham Southern 15-6, LaGrange College bounced back for an 11-7 victory in game two.

It’s a best-of-five series, and they’ll play two more games today beginning at 2 p.m.

If the series goes the distance, they’ll play a fifth and deciding game on Sunday.

All of the games are being played at Birmingham Southern.

The winner of the series advances to a two-team super regional next week with a berth in the Division III World Series on the line.

In Friday’s second game, the Panthers (30-10) were trailing 5-4 when they exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Jack Layrisson had three hits and an RBI for the Panthers, McKinley Erves and Joe Ruth each had two hits, Rhett Hollon had a double and an RBI, and Austin McDade had a hit and an RBI.

Gibson Bittner started and pithced 5 2/3 innings and held Birmingham Southern to two runs, and Tanner Chafin pitched three innings in relief to get the win.

In game one, the Panthers were up 4-3 after scored four runs in the fourth inning.

Layrisson had a two-run home run in the inning, and McDade had a solo homer.

Birmingham Southern took control with nine runs in the fifth inning, though.

Layrisson had two hits and three RBIs, Judd Moore and Cael Chatham each had two hits and an RBI.

Joe Ruth had three hits.

Austin Fain (6-1) started for the Panthers and gave up seven runs in four innings to take his first loss of the season.