MARYVILLE, Tenn. - LaGrange battered Maryville 19-6 in the first of a three-game USA South series Saturday night. The Panthers improved to 13-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play with their fifth straight win. The game was called after seven innings because of the 12-run mercy rule.

Sophomore shortstop Cael Chatham and senior first baseman Trey Pearce combined for seven hits, five runs, and nine RBIs. Chatham had three hits, including a double, and a career-high five RBIs in running his hitting streak to 12 games. Pearce went 4-for-4, with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBIs. The Panthers set a season-high in runs and tied a season-high of 15 hits for the third time. Maryville pitching issued 14 walks in the game.

Sophomore Baley Coleman (4-3) threw his second straight complete game. Coleman scattered 12 hits, gave up the six runs but only three were earned.

The Panthers had taken a 4-1 lead by the top of the third inning, but Maryville got a couple of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to get within one.

LC came back with a nine-run explosion in the fifth inning. Jack Layrisson led off the decisive inning with a walk. A bunt single and a walk to David Smigelski loaded the bases. Layrisson scored on a wild pitch and Pearce came home as Rhett Hebert reached on a fielder's choice. Joe Ruth's sacrifice fly drove in Smigelski to up the lead to 9-3.

The Panthers loaded the bases again on walks to McKinley Erves and E.J. Churchich. Chatham delivered a two-run single and Layrisson, batting for the second time in the inning, followed with an RBI double. Pearce capped the inning with a three-run blast to right field, his first home run of the season and a 13-3 lead.

LC tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning. Churchich was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Dustin Doscher walked with the bases loaded to drive in runs. In between Churchich and Doscher, Chatham had an RBI single and Layrisson a sacrifice fly.

The Panthers closed out their scoring in the seventh inning. Chatham finished his night by drawing a bases-loaded single and Matt Eden had an RBI infield single to make it 19-4. Maryville (6-15, 2-5 USA South) added two runs in the bottom of the inning for the 19-6 final.

The two teams play a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.