LaGrange battled Covenant in the first game of a USA South series Thursday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. The visiting Scots downed the Panthers 5-2 in the first game of their USA South series.

The Panthers (8-15, 5-8 USA South) saw their three-game winning streak end. The Scots improved to 14-6 overall and 10-3 in the conference.

Covenant, the conference's best hitting team with a .327 batting average, was held to just four hits by three Panther pitchers. But the Scots took advantage of five walks issued by the Panthers and three errors.

The Scots took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off Jarred Adams (2-4). After back-to-back walks to start the inning, David Lockwood doubled to the gap in left, driving in both runners. 

The Panthers got one of the runs back in their half of the first. Jim Reed led off with a double down the left field line.

Reed moved over to third on Alex Murfin's ground out and scored as Cain Sauls grounded out to short to make it 2-1.

The Panthers tied the game in the fourth inning. Adam Terrinoni singled through the left side with one out. Kyle Nerbonne followed with a long double to the fence in left as Terrinoni came all the way around to tie the game.

Covenant reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning. The Scots took advantage of two errors by the Panthers to push across two unearned runs off Adams and go up 4-2.

The Scots added another run in the seventh off Daniel Garrett to push their lead to 5-2. It was the first earned run Garrett has surrendered this season in 21-2/3 innings.

Gage Mooney threw the last two innings, retiring all six batters he faced.

The two teams will play at noon Friday, weather permitting.