BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - No. 17 Birmingham-Southern took an early lead and held on for a 6-4 win over LaGrange at Striplin Field on Tuesday. The loss left the Panthers 11-12 on the season, while the host Panthers improved to 15-7.

The Panthers' first five batters had all of their seven hits. Josh Shiver and Keith Sims had two hits each, while Brent Kinsey, Cody Muren and Jim Reed each had a hit.

Coach Kevin Howard used eight pitchers in the game. Matt Steele started and took the loss for the Panthers.

BSC built a 5-0 lead after two innings. The Panthers got back in the game with two runs in the third inning.

Reed reached on an error to start the inning. Kinsey followed with a double down the left field line. Shiver drove in Reed with a single for the first run of the inning. Kinsey came home as Shiver was caught trying to steal second to make it 5-2.

The Panthers pulled within a run with two more runs in the fifth inning. Sims started the inning with a single and stole second. Reed reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners.

Sims came home on a passed ball as Reed took second. Reed came around to score on Shivers' two-out base hit to make it 5-4.

The host Panthers added an insurance run in the seventh inning for the 6-4 final score.

The Panthers play at Emory in a doubleheader on Saturday. The Panthers will host the Eagles on Sunday at 2 p.m.