MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Maryville handed LaGrange an 8-4 loss in the opening game of a weekend USA South series Friday at Scotland Yard. The Panthers are 11-11 in the conference and 13-15 overall.

Maryville (15-18, 10-12 USA South) built a 6-0 lead and held off the Panthers in the final four innings. The Scots' first three batters combined for seven hits, six runs and four RBIs.

The Panthers had 10 hits in the game. Josh Shiver had three hits, while Keith Sims had two. Jon Brock and Cody Muren each had a double.

Drew Williamson (1-4) pitched the first four innings for the Panthers. He allowed six runs; three earned, walked three and struck out four.

Henry Jacobs followed Williamson for two innings. Jacobs gave up two runs; but only one was earned. Matt Steele and Josh Bricker each pitched a scoreless inning.

Shiver and Sims had run-scoring singles in the seventh and eighth innings. Brock closed out the scoring in the ninth with an RBI double.

The two teams play again Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.