ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College baseball team dropped their conference-opening series with LaGrange College (Ga.) falling 7-5 in game 1 and 6-3 in game 2 of their home doubleheader on Monday afternoon. The opening game of the series, scheduled for Sunday, was canceled due to rain.

LaGrange 7, NC Wesleyan 5

The Panthers got out to a 2-0 lead after 4 and 1/2 innings before Wesleyan rallied to take the lead with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th on a two-run double from senior catcher Brandon Wheat and an RBI double from senior DH Nate Gardner.

Wesleyan would then add another run in the 6th to increase their lead to 4-2. However, LC would then rally with three runs in the 7th and two more in the 8th off junior relievers Galen Beaver and Connor Stratton as the Panthers took advantage of some Wesleyan errors.

Wesleyan would add a run in the 8th, but it would not be enough as they fell 7-5. Senior starting pitcher Brynner Porter pitched well for the Bishops throwing 5 innings allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs on 3 walks and 3 strikeouts while Beaver and Stratton combined for four Ks.

Offensively, senior outfielder Logan Andrews also hit a double while junior shortstop Alec Titmus recorded a triple, stole a base and scored 3 runs in his 3 for 4 season debut. Wheat also had two hits with junior 2B Brad Pennington singling, driving in a run, and stealing a base while also reaching base 3 times, (2 via walks).

LAGRANGE 6, NCWC 3

LC would again jump out to a fast start leading 4-0 after a three-run fourth punctuated by a two-run homer. However, Wesleyan would rally scoring three runs immediately in the bottom half to trim LC's lead to one. Senior CF Cedrick Kornegay and junior catcher Nick Beaver tallied RBI singles in the frame while junior RF Moses Vigo added a sacrifice fly.

LaGrange would then tack on two more runs while their pitching would shut down the Bishops over the final five innings as each team tallied 9 hits in the game. Kornegay, Titmus and senior 1B Trey Croom all led with two-hit games while Titmus stole another base.

Junior Starter J.D. Makauskas (0-1) tossed four innings allowing 7 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) while junior reliever Noah Shrock threw 3 and 1/3 innings of shutdown relief with five strikeouts.

Wesleyan falls to 3-3 overall while LaGrange improves to 7-3 and 2-0 in the conference. The Bishops are right back at it tomorrow when they host Ferrum College (Va.) (4-4) in a 2 PM game.