BELTON, TEXAS — The Piedmont College baseball team faced adversity Saturday night falling behind early, but overcame it to pick up an 11-9 victory over Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Lions' offense was explosive with three innings where the team scored three or more runs.
After a scoreless first inning, the Lions surrendered four runs in the bottom of the second on four hits with one runner left on base. Trailing 4-0, the Lions tacked on a run in the top of the third on a ZACH LANGLEY sac fly that scored EVAN GRESHAM after he had reached on an error and advanced to second on the play.
Piedmont continued to pour on the offense in the fourth inning with four runs on three hits taking the lead 5-4. With two runners in scoring position and only one out, GRIFFIN OLSON singled to score JAKE BROWNING followed by an EVAN GRESHAM double scoring BRADY BALLSTADT and forcing a pitching change.
ZACH LANGLEY picked up another hit with a double scoring EVAN GRESHAM, but the Crusaders weren't backing down. Mary Hardin-Baylor put up another three runs in the bottom of the frame making it 7-5 after four innings.
The fifth inning saw both teams send just three batters to the plate but the sixth saw the bats come back to life. Langley once again came through with a single scoring both Olson and WILL SKIDMORE. MICHAEL BARNES reached on an error and with the bases loaded, ZACK JOHNSON was walked to make it 8-7 Piedmont.
The Crusaders were able to plate one run in the sixth inning to tie the game at 8 though MATT VONDERSCHMIDT was able to strike out the side in his first inning of relief work.
Once again, ZACH LANGLEY came through for the Lions in the seventh inning as he singled to score Gresham and Skidmore to regain the lead for Piedmont. Langley then stole second and scored on a Barnes single making it 11-8 Piedmont.
The Lions threatened again in the eighth inning loading the bases, but a pair of strikeouts delivered to Gresham and Davidson ended the threat. ALLEN TOKARZ entered in relief in the eighth inning on the mound and faced just three batters picking up a strikeout on the way.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Crusaders led off with a home run but JOSH THOMAS shut down Mary Hardin-Baylor's attempt to get back in the game facing a total of five batters in the final frame. Thomas picked up his third save of the season in his third appearance as he has earned a save in all three wins so far this year.
The win belonged to MATT VONDERSCHMIDT who picked up his second win to move to 2-0 with both victories on the mound coming in middle relief appearances.
Turning Point
--A four-run fourth inning sparked the Lions offense as they took the lead and continued their hot hitting throughout the remainder of the competition.
Standout Performances
--ZACH LANGLEY had a career-best 6 RBI as he went 3-for-5 at the plate with those 6 RBI tying him for third best in the program's NCAA Era for a single game.
--EVAN GRESHAM was 3-for-5 with four runs, one RBI, a double and a walk.
Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont's tandem of Tokarz and JOSH THOMAS have given up just two hits and one run over the last five innings they have pitched combined.
--Freshman BEN MCCURLEY made his first start for Piedmont going two innings for the Lions.
News & Notes
--The 11 runs scored by Piedmont are the most so far this season for the Lions as are the 14 hits.
Up Next
Piedmont wraps up its trip to Texas Sunday with a contest against Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
