LaGrange held off Piedmont 9-6 in a USA South game Saturday in Williamson Stadium at Cleaveland Field. The win enabled the Panthers (13-14, 11-10 USA South) to take two of the three games against the Lions (15-14, 12-9 USA South).

The Panthers had 11 hits in setting a season-high for runs in a game. Blake Schuck had three hits, scored two runs and drove in a run. Brent Kinsey had a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Keith Sims also had two hits.

Doug Scherer (5-2) went seven innings to get the win for the Panthers. He allowed five runs; four earned, on 10 hits while walking two and striking out five.

Kenneth Strack followed Scherer with a scoreless eighth inning. Schuck closed out the game in the ninth, surrendering a run on three hits.

Piedmont scored twice in the second inning to go up 2-0. Brandon Espinosa made a running catch in deep center to end the inning, taking an extra base hit away from Josh Bailey with the bases loaded.

The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Cody Muren and Jame Hall were both hit by a pitch from Matt Lisk (2-4) to start the inning. Muren scored on an error as Espinosa reached on a field choice. Schuck' two-out single brought in Espinosa with the tying run.

Piedmont got the lead back with a run in the top of the third inning. The Panthers answered with three runs in their half of the fourth to take a 5-3 lead.

The three runs all came with two outs. The Panthers loaded the bases on hits by Espinosa and Schuck followed by a walk to Josh Shiver. Jim Reed legged out an infield hit to bring in Espinosa with Schuck also scoring off an error on the play. Reed moved up to second on a throw in the dirt and Shiver raced home when the throw went down to second to make it 5-3.

The Lions tied the game for the final time with two runs in the sixth inning. The Panthers came back with two runs in their half of the sixth, followed by a run each in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Panthers used two-out magic again in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with two outs. Brent Kinsey went the opposite way with a two-run single to right field to put the Panthers up 7-5.

In the seventh, the Panthers took advantage of an error by the Lions to increase their lead. A botched pick off play allowed James Hall to score from third to make it 8-5.

The Panthers added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Reed reached on a fielder's choice and moved up to second on a walk to Brent Kinsey and over to third on a ground out before scoring on a wild pitch for a 9-5 lead.

The Panthers close out the USA South portion of the schedule with three games at Maryville starting Friday, April 5.