HIGH POINT, N.C. - LaGrange's 2021 season ended with a heart-breaking 7-6 loss to Salisbury at the High Point Regional on Friday in Truist Point. The top-seeded Sea Gulls (27-4) staged a two-run ninth inning rally to walk off with the win.

"This one hurts. The guys played extremely hard, but we gave them a little too much," said Coach David Kelton. "A team as good as they are you just can't give them anything. A couple of times we couldn't close out the inning. We just gave them a little too much over the course of the game."

The game marked the end of six seniors' careers. Seniors E.J. Churchich, Spencer Douches, Jack Layrisson, Judd Moore, Trey Pearce, and J.R. Robinson  have been a part of 98 wins, three USA South Tournament championships, and three appearances in the NCAA Division III national tournament.

"I couldn't be more proud of the way the guys played this year," added Kelton. "They wanted this more than anything but couldn't punch through. But our time is coming. The program is in a great place and we have to keep pushing forward."

The Panthers finished the season 24-10 and have a strong nucleus returning for 2022. Among those returning are sophomore outfielder Rhett Mixon and sophomore shortstop Cael Chatham.

Mixon led off the game with his first career home run, an opposite field shot over the left field fence off Salisbury starter Xavier Marmol. In the second inning, the Panthers loaded the bases after two were out on a hit by Rhett Hebert, then back-to-back walks to Mixon and Joe Ruth. Chatham followed with his second grand slam of the season to right field, staking the Panthers to a 5-1 lead.

Salisbury chipped away at the deficit, scoring one run at a time until the game was tied 5-5 after six innings. In the seventh, Douches (2-2) came on in relief of Brett Caneega with a runner on first and no outs. He got the first out on a force play at second. Chatham kept the ball in the infield twice with diving stops, as the Sea Gulls loaded the bases. Douches ended the inning and the threat with back-to-back strike outs.

LC regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Pearce doubled down the right field line to start the inning. Layrisson moved Pearce over to third with a sacrifice bunt. McKinley Erves singled through the right side to bring home Pearce and a 6-5 lead.

Douches retired the Sea Gulls in order in the eighth, striking out two more. But in the ninth, Scott Cameron led off with a single and Stephen Rice's bunt attempt was misplayed to put runners on second and third. Sky Rahill ended the game with a line drive two-run single  to left center for the 7-6 final.