Holly Springs, N.C. (May 18, 2018) - Sixth-seeded LaGrange College (29-17) scored single runs in the fourth and fifth and got timely defense and pitching in a 2-1 win over #5 Alvernia University (28-15) in the first elimination game of the NCAA Division III Baseball South Regional Friday afternoon at Ting Park.

The Panthers loaded the bases and scored on a hit batter in the fourth and got a run-scoring triple in the fifth.

Alvernia had scoring threats in four of the nine innings, but only managed the single run in the eighth.  Alex Salesky singled to open the eighth and moved to second on a single from Conor Boyle. LaGrange starter Colin Barrett uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Salesky to move to third and he came around to score when when the catcher threw wild down to second to try to get Boyle.

Boyle was picked off second for the first out of the eighth and the next two batters flied out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth Alvernia junior Matt Briner started some noise with a two-out, opposite field single.  Marcus Celiano singled Briner to third and moved up to second on the throw, but LaGrange went to the pen for Zach English who got Franco Esposito to end the game on a grounder to second.

Dillon Dunne was 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot to lead the Alvernia offense.  Salesky was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Zack Landy started and went five innings giving up two runs on three hits with two strikeouts.  Nicholas Marotta threw the final four innings for Alvernia and allowed three hits and no runs.

LaGrange advances in the losers bracket and will face the loser of the Friday night game between TCNJ and Christopher Newport.

#6 LaGrange 2, #5 Alvernia 1