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After topping Starr’s Mill on Tuesday, the LaGrange baseball team could not repeat that success on Thursday, losing to the Panthers 10-7. The game was there for the taking for the Grangers but they squandered a 7-2 lead after 5.5 innings. 

Before a furious late rally from the Panthers gave the home team a win, LaGrange had most of the momentum early. The Grangers were able to take the first lead of the game when Preston Pressley hit an RBI single in the top of the second inning. Pressley went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help lead the charge offensively. 

The Panthers had a quick reply and took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with two runs. 

LaGrange’s offense came alive in the top of the fourth to give the Grangers the lead back. Gryson Cockrell and Jackson Bozemen scored on a pair of passed balls to tie the game and give LaGrange a 3-2 lead. Passed balls became a recurring theme with Trey Cook and Seth Stargell scoring on two more passed balls in the inning to give LaGrange a 5-2 lead. 

The Grangers added to their lead with a couple of runs in the top of the fifth. Cockrell came through again and hit an RBI double before Kayden Sutton drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to extend the Granger lead to five runs. Cockrell was the Grangers most effective offensive weapon, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. 

The Panthers trimmed the lead to two runs in the bottom of the fifth, which was just a harbinger for what was to come. LaGrange came unraveled in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Panthers plating five runs to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. 

A stunned Granger side went three up and three down in the top of the seventh with their hopes of a sweep of Starr’s Mill dashed. 

Tanner Langley had an impressive showing despite the loss, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases. Cole Garner was 2-for-4. Robbie Parker had a hit and a run scored. 

Seth Stargell showed off his supreme base running ability by swiping three bases on the evening. 

Cook got the start on the mound, doing 4 1/3 innings while Parker got the final 1 2/3 innings on the mound in relief. 

LaGrange is now 8-7 overall and 1-1 in region play. The Grangers will have another massive region road game next Tuesday against Whitewater.