By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
The LaGrange College Panthers delivered a knockout punch.
Facing Piedmont in the semifinals of the USA South baseball tournament, LaGrange College swept a doubleheader in emphatic fashion to reach the championship round.
The Panthers hit six home runs and scored 11 runs in one inning on the way to a 23-1 victory in game one, and they finished the sweep with a 14-1 victory.
In the two games combined, the Panthers had seven home runs and 47 hits, and they scored at least one run in all but three innings.
The pitching was exceptional as well, with seven pitchers combining to hold Piedmont to three runs in 18 innings.
Next up for LaGrange will be a showdown with North Carolina Wesleyan in the championship series.
The series will be played in Rocky Mount, N.C., and it will be a best-of-three series.
LaGrange College is attempting to win a fourth consecutive USA South tournament championship.
Here’s a look at both of the games against Piedmont:
GAME ONE
LAGRANGE COLLEGE 23
PIEDMONT 2
It was basically batting practice for the Panthers, who had a remarkable 29 hits, and six of those hits left the yard.
EJ Churchich hit two home runs, and Joe Ruth, Cael Chatham, Trey Pearce and Jack Layrisson each had one home run.
Five different LaGrange players had four hits, and everyone in the lineup had at least one hit.
No one did more damage than Churchich, who had four hits with two home runs, two doubles, and five…
