MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Maryville downed LaGrange 6-5 in the first game of their CCS weekend series Thursday night at Scotland Yard. The Scots upped their conference-leading record to 12-1 and are now 26-8 overall. The Panthers slipped to 15-19 overall and 7-6 in conference play.

The Panthers carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Scots rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning off relievers Chandler Walker and Evan Jackson (0-2) to go up 6-5. LC put two runners on in the ninth. Curt Bonner doubled with two outs and Tray Owens walked before Xavier Resto (3-0) got the final out.

Maryville got a first inning run off LC starter Josiah Chiesa. The Panthers tied the game in the third. Jackson McElvey tripled and scored on Adam Dorn's ground out.

Jorge Fragoso broke the tie for the Panthers in the fourth inning. Bonner led off the inning with a single and one out later Fragoso homered down the right field line for a 3-1 lead. The home run was Fragoso's third of the season. 

LC upped its lead to 4-1 in the fifth. David Smigelski had a one out single and later scored as Owens reached on a fielders choice. Maryville stranded eight runners the first four innings against Chiesa. The Scots cut the Panthers' lead to a run with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Chiesa allowed the three runs in five innings of work. He struck out two and walked four, while scattering six hits. Parker Copeland followed with two innings of scoreless relief. 

The Panthers finished the game with 12 hits. Bonner went 4-for-4 with two doubles and scored a run. Fragoso had the home run included in his two hits. David Smigelski had two singles and scored a run.

Up Next: The series continues with Game 2 on Friday at 2 p.m.