DEMOREST -- The Piedmont College baseball team dropped behind early in a nightmare opening inning but stayed the course en route to a 9-7 victory over LaGrange College at Loudermilk Field in the second of a three-game weekend series in USA South play at Loudermilk.<br />
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The Lions gave up six runs on six hits and an error in the top of the 1st inning before clamping down defensively to hold LaGrange to a single score the rest of the afternoon in the two-run victory for PC at home.<br />
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After allowing a half dozen runs in the opening inning, Piedmont went to work offensively themselves getting two back in the home half of the inning as Daniel Lindsey and Evan Gresham picked up RBI singles with two outs. Working again with two outs in the 2nd, a walk to Breck Davidson with runners at 2nd and 3rd loaded the bases for PC who would then be recipients of back-to-back-to-back walks with the bags full of Lions as LaGrange repaid the favor of the home team from back in the top of the first. <br />
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Now a 6-5 game after two complete, fans wondered if game two would be a marathon like the four-hour, 12-inning affair from the night before between the two that saw the Lions come away with an 7-6 walkoff victory. However, only five more runs total would be scored on the remainder of the afternoon as LaGrange extended its lead back up to two runs with a score in the 4th, holding a 7-5 margin after four.<br />
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In the bottom of the 6th, Piedmont rallied once more with another 3-run inning scoring two of those with two outs as seven of the Lions' nine runs on the day came with two outs in the inning. An Austin Brick RBI single started the scoring in the 6th while a LaGrange error allowed it to continue with Michael Barnes coming home on the miscue just before Griffin Olson singled in the go-ahead run as Brick touched home to put Piedmont up 8-7 as they had rallied back from a 6-0 deficit on the afternoon. <br />
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Barnes would single in an insurance run just after the stretch at Loudermilk, but the Lions had already done enough as the ball was turned over to the bullpen which combined to throw the final three and two thirds giving up just three hits and no runs. <br />
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Getting the win on the mound was Matt Stephens who came on in relief of the Piedmont starter Preston Graham in the 6th inning. The win is the first for Stephens on the season as he has now thrown 11 and two thirds giving up just three earned runs in that span. <br />
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The save went to Jacob Brewster as he continues to inch closer towards the career record of 18 set by the great Tom Dimitroff. Brewster has six saves this season as he was dynamite on the hill today retiring the side in order in the top of the 9th with no trouble inducing three fly balls to the outfield.<br />
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Offensive leaders included Daniel Lindsey as he went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks while driving in a pair and scoring a run himself. Right fielder Evan Gresham was two for four with two RBIs and a walk to his name while Breck Davidson was two for four with three runs scored and a base on balls. <br />
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The win moves Piedmont to 19-9 on the season, but more importantly comes in conference play to move the Lions to 11-6, two games back of 1st place Covenant College in the loss column as the Scots swept a doubleheader with Ferrum earlier today to take two of three in that series which matched up the league's top two teams. <br />
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Piedmont will now host LaGrange College one more time this weekend in the finale of the weekend three-game set as the Lions look to close out the sweep with a win on Sunday. Coverage will be provided courtesy of the Mane Event Broadcasting Network which features a live video feed with integrated live stats in a showcase format through Sidearm Sports.
