Six-run 7th, 2-hit gem by Goershel sets tone in Piedmont baseball opener

MARYVILLE, Tenn. -- The Piedmont College baseball team could not have asked for a better start in its season opener with a dominant pitching performance and the offense clicking on all cylinders in a 11-0 shutout of Maryville College on the road. <br /> <br /> The contest was also the USA South opener for PC, the first time in the Jim Peeples era at Piedmont that the Lions have opened in league play. <br /> <br /> Getting the win on the mound was senior Chris Goershel who makes an early statement with a 6-inning, 2-hit performance that saw the veteran from Kennesaw allow just three walks while fanning six. The half dozen K's is the most for Goershel since a 6-strikeout performance against NC Wesleyan in March of last season. <br /> <br /> The offense was sparked by a 6-run 7th inning after Piedmont already held a 5-run lead heading into the frame. <br /> <br /> Piedmont hit better than .500 with runners in scoring position and also did so with 2 outs led by Casey Parham's 2-RBI double to left center in the 7th that helped keep alive the inning. Parham's base knock turned a 2-run inning into a 6-spot as middle infielders Will Skidmore and Griffin Olson collected RBI singles later in the inning.<br /> <br /> An RBI single from Skidmore got the scoring going to start the afternoon as he drove in teammate Keith Grabowski from 2nd after the Piedmont center fielder had doubled earlier in the inning. Skidmore finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. <br /> <br /> The Skidmore RBI in the 3rd was one of three runs scored for PC in the inning as the Lions would add two more in the Top of the 5th to go up 5-0 with Evan Gresham and Daniel Lindsey picking up the ribbys. However, it was the damage done by Piedmont in the 7th that propelled the Lions too far in front to be reached as four of the six runs in the inning came with two outs on the board. <br /> <br /> Goershel's lights-out performance on the mound gave the Scots no hope as he went 6 clean for the win while hurlers Luke Macdonald, Buddy Green and Michael Henderson each tossed an inning to contribute. The three relievers combined to no-hit the Scots as the Piedmont bullpen could be one of the most feared in the league with top reliever Allen Tokarz seeing no action on the afternoon leaving him available for the weekend. <br /> <br /> Gresham and Parham each collected a pair of RBIs as did Breck Davidson who went 3-for-4. Five different Lions hit doubles on the day.<br /> <br /> Next up for Piedmont will be another matchup with the Scots as the two face off on Saturday afternoon with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Scotland Yard.