FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Salisbury University baseball team suffered a 3-1 setback to LaGrange College on Wednesday afternoon in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Division III Baseball South Regional.

With the loss, the Sea Gulls (27-12) will take on Bridgewater (Va.) College in an elimination game on Thursday at 11 a.m. Bridgewater fell to top-seed Shenandoah University 11-1 in the first game of the regional.

Salisbury took an early lead in the contest, as senior Chad Wolfe (Thurmont, Md.) roped a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the second inning. That was the only run the maroon and gold would score in the contest.

The Panthers (27-17) pushed across two runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead. LaGrange opened the inning up with a pair of singles, before moving the runners over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Dale Feldman then laced a single up the middle that plated one run. LaGrange tacked on the second run in the inning with a squeeze play that scored the runner from third.

The Sea Gulls attempted to rebound in the bottom of the fourth, as senior Mike Celenza (Gaitherburg, Md.) jump-started the inning with a double to left center. The Panthers were able to get out of the inning unscathed.

LaGrange tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Eric Heath homered to left field for a 3-1 advantage.

Salisbury forged a comeback attempt in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Wolfe reached on a fielder's choice with one out. Wolfe moved up to second on a balk before senior Matt O'Keefe (Gaitherburg, Md.) reached on a two-out walk. The Panthers were able to get out of the inning as relief pitcher James Connell was able to get out the only batter he faced.

Senior pitcher Kyle Starr (Lusby, Md.) gave a solid pitching performance as he went seven innings and struck out three Panther batters.