LaGrange got strong starting pitching and timely hitting to down Covenant 6-2 in the first game of a three-game USA South series Friday night at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium.

Junior Zach Tatham (1-1) went seven innings to get his first win of the year. Tatham gave up a run, scattered six hits, walked two and struck out three. 

The Panthers (4-8, 4-6 USA South) made the most of their eight hits. Alec Redden had two hits, including a double. Keith Sims drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.

Covenant (6-6, 3-4 USA South) took a 1-0 lead off Tatham in the second inning on an RBI single from Alex Kerr.

It remained 1-0 until the fifth. Held to a hit over four innings by Garrett Kriston (2-2), the Panthers broke out with a three-run inning to take the lead.

Chris Laye led off the inning with a double to right center. Chad Pigg singled through the left side and Jackson Patrick coaxed a walk to load the bases.

Laye came home with the first run as Sims flied out to right. Ty Edwards followed with a base hit to center to drive in Pigg. Patrick also came around to score when the ball was misplayed in the out field to make it 3-1. 

The Panthers added to their lead with a run in each of the next three innings. Casey Bell got a lead off triple in the sixth when the ball went over the outfielder's head and rolled to the fence. Redden drove in Bell with a base hit through the left side for a 4-1 lead.

In the seventh, the Panthers scored without the benefit of a hit. With two outs, Alex Murfin was hit by a pitch. He stole second and went over to third on a wild pitch. Cain Sauls struck out but the ball got away and rolled to the backstop allowing Murfin to score to up the lead to 5-1.

The Panthers closed out their scoring in the eighth. Sims' two-out RBI single brought in Laye, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.