WARNER ROBINS -- Virginia head coach Jeff Grammes had to make a crucial decision in the sixth inning of Friday’s Little League Southeast Regional game against South Carolina.

With a two-run lead, Grammes could have stuck with dominating starter Patrick Francisco for two more outs. Or, because Francisco had thrown only 50 pitches, Grammes could have taken Francisco out and let him pitch again in Monday’s pool play finale.

Grammes chose to pull Francisco and bring in Brian Lawson to finish the game up. After a little bit of sweating by the Virginia faithful, Lawson closed the game out, and Virginia had a 2-0 win over South Carolina.

‘Patrick had been so great (Friday) that it was a tough call, and I could have ended up with egg on my face,” Grammes said. “But having the chance to use him again on Monday was just something we can really use. Brian Lawson came in and got the job done, just like we expected him too.”

It was a great battle between Francisco, who allowed just one hit in 5-2/3 innings of work, and South Carolina’s TJ Shook, who struck out seven in a little more than four innings. But Virginia managed to push two runs home in the fourth, with Eli Nachison coming up with the big two-run single to right field.

Meanwhile, Francisco was cruising, facing only 17 batters during the first five innings.

South Carolina did have a scoring chance in the sixth, putting two runners on base with two outs, but Lawson struck out cleanup batter Trad Beatty to end the threat.

“I woke up feeling great and ready to play,” Francisco said. “I really have an easy job to do because I have a great defense behind me. I just work hard and try to throw a lot of strikes.

“We didn’t want to come out here and lose the first one. We knew it was the most important game, and it’s great to get a win in this tournament.”