LAGRANGE — The Piedmont College baseball team is heading to the USA South Championship to face LaGrange after winning a pair of elimination games Friday.
Piedmont picked up wins over Greensboro College 10-3 and N.C. Wesleyan College 15-2 in eight innings, sending both teams packing as it will be the No. 1 seed Panthers and No. 8 seeded Lions in a rematch for the title.
It was quick starts in both that set the Lions up for success as Piedmont put up a five spot in the top of the first to set the tone against the Pride and never let up on the attack. The Lions would add another pair of runs to lead 7-0 before the Pride crossed the plate. Greensboro scored three in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to four runs but Piedmont answered back with a three run inning in the eighth.
The Lions chased Greensboro's starting pitcher after just one out as he allowed all five runs from the first inning being removed from the contest after walking three straight batters to score a pair of runs. Piedmont had eight stolen bases in the contest as the Lions are still best in the nation in stolen bases having over 100 on the season.
Max Bening earned the win for PC tossing six innings allowing the three runs while Ryan Stewart proved to be clutch again from the bullpen throwing the final three innings allowing only two hits to the 12 batters faced.
Piedmont scored three in the top of the first against N.C. Wesleyan, but it was a low scoring affair until the sixth as PC led it 3-1. Justin Groover ignited the offense again in the sixth inning with a home run while Griffin Caracciolo scored in the frame as well giving Piedmont a 5-1 lead.
The Lions would add three runs in the seventh and opened the flood gates in the eighth scoring seven runs to secure a run-rule victory. Riley Presnell pitched all eight innings for the Lions posting one of his best performances in the Green and Gold.
Piedmont had 15 runs on 15 hits in the contest as both Brady Ballstadt and Zach Langley had three hits in the game.
