Senior first baseman Trey Pearce hit his first home run of the season to help lead LaGrange to a 8-1 win over 23rd-ranked Emory on Tuesday at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadiium. The Panthers (12-5) have won three straight games and 11 of their past 12. Emory (11-4) lost for the second straight day.

How it Happened

• LC jumped on Emory starter Bryant Wise (0-1) for three runs in the first inning. McKinley Erves singled and Joe Ruth walked with one out. Jack Layrisson's base hit to center brought home Erves with the first run. With the hit and run on, Pearce drove in Ruth with a hit through the right side. Layrisson came home as Cael Chatham reached on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0.
• Emory put runners on second and third with no outs in the second inning against LC starter Tanner Chafin (2-0). Caleb Shulman's ground out to lead off the inning was overturned to a safe call, then Jacob Greene doubled to right field. Chafin retired the next three batters to escape the jam.
• The Panthers added to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Rhett Mixon doubled to right center with two outs. Erves followed with an RBI single to drive in Mixon to up the lead to 4-0.
• LC broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning. Layrisson drove in the first run with a single, scoring Erves. Pearce followed with a three-run blast over the right field fence for an 8-0 lead.
• Emory avoided the shutout with a run in the seventh. Greene's second double of the game scored Shulman, who led off the inning with a double.

By the Numbers

• The Panthers did not commit an error for the second straight game.
• Emory used seven pitchers in the game; LC four. 
• LC is 2-2 this season against ranked teams. The Panthers went 1-2 against Birmingham-Southern earlier in the season.
• In the past 12 games, LC has allowed more than four runs once.
• Emory had four hits in the game, tying for the fewest hits by an LC opponent this season.

Panther Standouts

• LC had 13 hits in the game. Pearce finished with three hits, including the home run, and drove in four runs.
• Erves also had three hits and his team-leading 24th RBIs. He raised his batting average to .441 on the season.
• Chafin made is first collegiate start. He allowed only two hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out three in four innings of work. 
• Rhett Hebert pitched a scoreless inning and Spencer Douches closed out the game with two scoreless innings.

Up Next
The Panthers begin a three-game USA South series with Piedmont on Friday at 7 p.m. in Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium.