By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Opposing pitchers had no answer for Judd Moore.

The LaGrange College Panthers won the USA South tournament championship with a 4-0 record, and Moore was a big reason why.

The sophomore outfielder finished with nine hits and seven RBIs in the four games, and he had two game-winning hits.

Not surprisingly, Moore was named the tournament’s MVP, and he received a plaque during an on-field celebration following last weekend’s championship-clinching 7-5 win over Greensboro.

Moore was one of six LaGrange College players to earn a spot on the all-conference team.

Five of those players, Moore, Cael Chatham, Trey Pearce, Jack Layrisson and EJ Churchich, were part of a lineup that produced 31 runs in four games.

Also making the all-tournament team was pitcher Austin Fain.

“Coming into the conference tournament, we started to get hot, the whole team,” Moore said. “My teammates kept getting on base for me, kept producing for me, and allowing me to hit them in. I just hit as well as the rest of the team did.”

Moore had two hits and two RBIs in LaGrange College’s tournament opener, a 9-7 win over Greensboro on Thursday.

In Friday’s 7-5 victory over Methodist, Moore’s two-run single in the top of the 10th inning gave LaGrange College the lead.

Moore had three hits and an RBI in Saturday’s 8-0 victory over North Carolina Wesleyan, and he had two hits and two RBIs on Sunday.

Peace, Layrisson, Churchich and Chatham also produced offensively in a big way.

“One through nine, I wouldn’t want to pitch against us,” Moore said. “Anybody can make something happen at any time. Leadoff gets on, and he’s more than likely going to score.”

Austin Fain earned his all-tournament spot by throwing seven shutout innings in Saturday’s 8-0 win.

ALL-CONFERENCE: LaGrange College was well-represented on the USA South all-conference team.

Among the Panthers’ honorees was senior Austin Fain, who was named the USA South pitcher of the year.

Also making the all-conference team were E.J. Churchich, McKinley Erves, Joe Ruth, Spencer Douches and Richie Post.

Fain has been one of the anchors of LaGrange College’s staff this season.

Fain has started 11 games, and he’s 6-0 with a 1.48 earned run average.

Douches has been a lock-down member of the bullpen for the Panthers.

Douches, a junior, has appeared in a team-leading 16 games, and he’s 3-0 with three saves and a 0.53 ERA.

Erves has enjoyed a monster sophomore season with a .417 batting average, and he has six doubles, five triples, 18 RBIs, and a team-leading 37 runs scored.

Ruth has had a big freshman season with a .354 batting average, and he has six doubles, three triples and a team-best 41 RBIs.

Churchich is hitting .303 with four home runs, six doubles and 31 RBIs.