Strong starting pitching, backed up by a solid defense carried LaGrange past Millsaps 5-1 on Friday night in Williamson Stadium at Cleaveland Field. The Panthers, in stopping a three-game losing streak, improved to 7-12.

Robby Williams gave the Panthers a strong eight innings in evening his record at 2-2. Williams allowed the lone run, scattered eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six. Isaiah Whitfield retired the side in the ninth to close out the game. The game marked the first time this season the Panther pitching did not issue a walk.

The Panthers turned four double plays in the game. Second baseman Brent Kinsey and third baseman Josh Shiver had five assists each in the game.

Millsaps (10-8) helped the Panthers with six walks and two errors. Of the Panthers' five runs, only one was earned.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first without benefit of a hit. Kinsey led off the inning with a walk and went to third on an error on an attempted pick off. After a walk to Jon Brock, Kinsey scored as Cody Muren reached on an error.

In the second, the Panthers added to their lead. With one out, Doug Scherer hit a triple to the gap in right field. Linwood Roberds followed with an RBI single to center field. Roberds moved up on a passed ball and scored on Brandon Espinosa's two-out base hit to make it 3-0.

Williams pitched around two hits in the first inning by getting an inning-ending double play. In the fifth, the Majors had back-to-back hits to start the inning. Kinsey started an inning ending double play with a diving stop to his right then David Miller finished the play with a great stretch at first base.

The Panthers closed out their scoring with two runs in the sixth inning. Brock reached on an error to start the inning, then a base hit by Muren and a bunt single by Miller loaded the bases. Shiver walked to force in a run and Roberds drove in Muren with a sacrifice fly to up the Panthers' lead to 5-0.

Millsaps avoided the shutout in the eighth inning. Drew Leonard had a triple to the left field wall with two outs and scored on Stephen Gates' double.

The two teams continue their three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. EST.