DANVILLE, Va. — LaGrange College defeated the Averett University baseball team in both games of a USA South Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Owen-Fulton Field. The Panthers took the first game 5-1 and defeated the Cougars 11-1 in the nightcap.

Ahead 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning of the first game, LaGrange (16-10, 8-4 USA South) scored a pair of runs in the frame to establish some space. An RBI fielder's choice to the shortstop brought home the Panthers' third tally of the contest, and LaGrange took a four-run lead on an RBI single by Grant Perry. 

Averett (10-13, 2-7 USA South) recorded its first run in the bottom of the fifth to cut its deficit to three. With runners on first and second base, senior Billy McLaughlin came around to score on a throwing error by the Panthers' shortstop to make it a 4-1 game. The Cougars had a chance to cut their deficit down even more, but a strikeout and groundout to third ended Averett's rally. 

Neither team was able to get on the board in the first two innings as both Walsh and the Panthers' Ryan Broaderick dueled it out on the mound. However, LaGrange opened up the scoring in the top of the third when Joe Pradat scored on a delayed steal to put the Panthers in front 1-0. The Panthers grabbed a valuable insurance run in the top of the fourth when a Cougars' throwing error allowed Blane Swift to score. 

An RBI single from Blake Butcher in the top of the seventh gave LaGrange its fifth run of the game, leading to the final score.

Senior Nic Futrell paced the Cougars offensively in the first game, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate.

Walsh (3-2) struck out the first four batters he faced on his way to five strikeouts in the complete-game performance, his second of the season.
The Panthers' Ryan Broaderick picked up his fourth win of the season, scattering only two hits and striking out seven in seven innings of work. 

Game 2 saw LaGrange jump on Averett early. Tavin Thompson's two-run single through the left side put the Panthers up 2-0 heading into the bottom of the second. LaGrange picked up its third tally of the game in the fourth on an RBI single by Casey Bell. The Panthers scored eight runs over the course of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to lead to give them an 11-run advantage after eight-and-a-half. 

The Cougars got on the board in the ninth to avoid the shutout. Sophomore Deondre' Branch led of the frame with a single up the middle to pick up his first collegiate hit. Freshman Jason Setliff reached on a fielder's choice to third base and Branch moved up to third on a Panthers' throwing error. Two batters later, freshman Matt Tuggle drove in Branch with a sacrifice fly out to left field to put the Cougars on the board and pick up his first RBI in an Averett uniform as well. 

Ashworth was perfect at the plate, recording a 2-for-2 performance in the nightcap. 

Senior Joshua Hatcher (2-1) struck out six in 5.1 innings of work on the mound. Sophomore Patrick Long closed out the game with an impressive ninth, retiring all three batters he faced. 

Averett will look to get back in the win column when it hosts Tufts University on March 22 at 1:30 p.m. on Owen-Fulton Field.