Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

COLUMBUS – LaGrange took a big step toward securing a second-place finish in Region 2-AAAA with a 13-4 road win over Hardaway on Wednesday.

LaGrange (17-10 overall), which improved to 8-3 in the region, will finish second with a home win over Hardaway on Friday.

If LaGrange does finish second, it will host a first-round series in the state playoffs next week.

The game was scoreless through four innings, and LaGrange took control with six runs in the top of the fifth.

Colton Esposito had a big game for the Grangers with three hits including a double, and he had three RBIs.

Leadoff hitter Matthew Morgan had two hits, Landon Tucker had a hit and three RBIs, Will Alford walked twice and had a double with two RBIs, Seth Stargell had a hit and two RBIs, Trey Cook had a hit and a walk and two runs scored, and Turner Cook had an RBI and two runs scored.

Morgan was LaGrange’s starting pitcher, and he threw four innings and gave up five hits while striking out six, and the three earned runs he gave up were unearned.

Tucker threw two innings and didn’t allow a hit, and Ben Alford and T.J. Wilkerson combined to throw a scoreless seventh inning.