LaGrange battled back to split a USA South doubleheader Sunday with Averett at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium. 

Averett (10-6, 7-4 USA South) took the first game 14-7, before the Panthers (6-11, 6-8 USA South) came back with a 6-4 win in the second game.

A pair of errors helped the Cougars take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game off Eric Morell (2-4). The Panthers answered in their half of the first.

A walk to Alex Murfin and a single by Keith Sims put runners on the corners with no outs. Cain Sauls drove in Murfin a hit up the middle and Sims also scored as the throw from the outfield got away. Sauls later scored on another error to put the Panthers up 3-2.

Averett retook the lead in the fourth with the help of two more errors by the Panthers. The Panthers tied the game 4-4 in their half of the inning on Sims' two-out single, scoring Jackson Patrick.

The Panthers took the lead for good in the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh. Adam Terrinoni doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on Jim Reed's sacrifice bunt. In the seventh, Sims walked, then stole second and third. Alec Redden's sacrifice fly scored Sims to make it 6-4.

Morell pitched six innings, allowing the four unearned runs. Jake Fussell threw a scoreless seventh innng. He got defensive help from Terrinoni, who made a running catch in right center to end the inning and leaving the bases loaded.

Blake Schuck worked the final two innings to pick up his second save. He got out of a second and third and only one out jam in the eighth by getting two straight ground ball outs. Schuck gave up a lead off single in the ninth before retiring the next three batters to end the game.

In the first game, the Panthers scored three times in the fourth to take the lead. Terrinoni had an infield hit to drive in the first run and Jim Reed's two-out two-run double put the Panthers up 3-2.

Averett came back with five runs in the fifth and seven more in the seventh to build a 14-3 lead. The Panthers added a run in the sixth and three more in the eighth for the 14-7 final.

Reed finished the game with two hits and three RBIs. Terrinoni had two hits, including a triple, and scored three runs.

Zach Tatham (1-2) started for the Panthers and took the loss. Tyler Brooks, Stephen Coelho and Bruno Aurnhammer followed Tatham.

The two teams conclude the series on Monday at 1 p.m.