HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. - Top-seeded Randolph-Macon edged LaGrange 2-1 in the opening game of the Holly Spring Regional at Ting Park on Thursday. The Panthers (28-17) will face the College of New Jersey-Alvernia loser in an elimination game Friday at 11 a.m.
Thursday's game was a pitching duel between LC's Richie Post and Colin Selby. Post (3-4) pitched into the seventh before giving way to Gibson Bittner. He allowed the two runs, only one was earned, while walking three and striking out two.
Selby (11-2), the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, pitched his first complete game of the season. He scattered eight hits, allowed only an unearned run, walked three and struck out 10.
LC had early scoring chances but came up empty. The Panthers left the bases loaded in the second and an inning-ending double play end another threat in the third.
The Panthers clawed out a run in the fifth to take a 1-0 lead. Dawson Weaver led off the inning with a bunt single and took second on an error on the play. He moved over to third on Rhett Mixon's sacrifice bunt. Jacob Gassert reached on another bunt single to put runners on the corner. Weaver came home with the game's first run as James Poropatic grounded out to first.
Randolph-Macon (32-7-1) tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Jeff Butler's RBI double drove in Ryan Duphorn with the tying run. In the seventh, the Yellow Jackets pushed across the go-ahead run. Zach Evans led off the inning with a double and scored on Butler's base hit off Bittner to make it 2-1.
Gassert finished the game 3-for-4. McKinley Earves added two hits.
