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LaGrange got back to winning ways on Wednesday with a 8-1 win over Columbus after dropping its season opener on Tuesday.

The Grangers had to use a late inning barrage to lift themselves past the Blue Devils as the opening innings produced a pitcher’s duel between LaGrange’s Trevor Booton and Columbus’ Mason Schoonover.

The Grangers broke the deadlock in the top of the second inning when Gryson Cockrell hit a RBI single to give LaGrange a 1-0 lead. Columbus answered back with a run in the bottom of the third inning and the game stayed tied at one until the Granger offense heated up starting in the fifth inning.

The Blue Devils made a pitching change in the fifth inning and the Grangers went to work. Bryson Monteith scored on an error before Cole Garner delivered a RBI single to make it 3-1 LaGrange. 

The Grangers just kept adding to their lead, including a run in the sixth inning on a Preston Pressley RBI sacrifice fly. The Grangers added four more runs in the top of the seventh to all but kill the game off. Kayden Sutton walked with the bases loaded to drive in the first run before an error saw three base runners reach home plate for the Grangers.

Tanner Langley hit lead off and went 3-for-4 for the Grangers. 

Robbie Parker went 2-for-2 while reaching base on a walk and hit by pitch as well. Parker led the team with three runs scored in the game. He also pitched the final two innings of the game in relief and only allowed one hit on two strikeouts. 

Cockrell showed how far he has come from major shoulder surgery nearly nine months ago by going 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Booton was outstanding on the mound for the Grangers. The Auburn commit went five innings and allowed just two hits and no earned runs on seven strikeouts. 

LaGrange moved to 1-1 on the season. The Grangers have a doubleheader at home on Saturday against Spalding.