Seventh-ranked Birmingham-Southern escaped with a 6-5 win over LaGrange on Tuesday night at Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium.

The visiting Panthers (12-0) built a 6-0 lead through six innings and then watched as the host Panthers (5-10) rallied in the final innings.

Jacob Mayfield gave Birmingham-Southern a quick 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the first inning off starter Jake Fussell (0-1). The home run was the team's first of the season and only the second allowed by the Panthers.

Fussell blanked the visitors over the next three innings before giving way to Daniel Garrett. Birmingham-Southern got four runs off Garrett in the sixth to take a 6-0 lead.

Tyler Brooks got the final out of the sixth and threw three more scoreless innings to close out the game for the Panthers. He allowed only two hits, while walking none and striking out two.

The Panthers got back in the game with a four-run rally of their own in the seventh off reliever Kyle Royalty.

Casey Bell drew a walk to start the inning and Alec Redden followed with a double to the left field fence. One batter later, Chad Pigg doubled to the left field corner, driving in Redden and Bell with the Panthers' first two runs of the game.

Jackson Patrick walked and Jim Reed loaded the bases by legging out an infield single. Ty Edwards was hit by a pitch to force in Pigg for the third run. Keith Sims reached on a fielder's choice as Patrick came home to make it 6-4.

In the eighth, the Panthers pulled within a run. Bell opened the inning with a double down the left field line. Redden drove in pinch runner Adam Terrinoni with a single to cut the deficit to 6-5.

David Bourbonnais came on to pitch for Birmingham-Southern and got the final two outs in the eighth. Bourbonnais retired the Panthers in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.

The Panthers host Averett in a three-game USA South series starting Saturday at noon with a scheduled doubleheader and a single game for Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.