DEMOREST — After a tough start with the Scots leading 3-0 after the first three outs, the Lions fought back to earn their first USA South victory of the season against Maryville College 5-4 Saturday. Starter BEN MCCURLEY picked up his first collegiate victory after tossing 5.1 innings in his third start of the year.
The Scots led early after a hot start with three runs on two hits in the top of the first, but McCurley settled in to allow no additional runs and just four hits outside of that inning. Piedmont saw a leadoff single by WILL SKIDMORE but recorded just one more hit until the fourth inning when the bats came to life.
The Lions scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as EVAN GRESHAM tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a BRECK DAVIDSON double in the following at bat. ZACH LANGLEY continued the momentum with a single to send Davidson home and make it a 3-2 game.
ZACK JOHNSON singled with one out to move Langley into scoring position followed by JOSH TATE hitting a single to score Langley, earn himself an RBI and tie the game. BRADY BALLSTADT continued the onslaught with a single and an RBI scoring Johnson and giving the Lions the lead.
WILL SKIDMORE reached on a fielder's choice while Tate scored on an error by the pitcher but the inning came to a close as Skidmore was caught stealing with GRIFFIN OLSON up to bat.
It was a quick game as neither team sent more than four batter to the plate from that point until the top of the eighth inning as the Scots earned a pair of hits against MATT VONDERSCHMIDT but JOSH THOMAS entered to close out the inning getting the final out of the eighth and closing out the ninth. Thomas earned his sixth save of the season, best in the country, giving up just two hits, one run and striking out two.
Turning Point
--A six hit, five run fourth inning gave Piedmont just enough to outlast the Scots in game two.
Standout Performances
--BEN MCCURLEY picked up his first win of his career going 5.1 innings giving up six hits and three runs while striking out four batters.
--BRADY BALLSTADT had a 2-for-3 outing with an RBI as the freshman has already won USA South Rookie of the Week honors once in his young career.
Inside the Box Score
--Both teams did the majority of their damage through one big inning as the Scots scored three in the top of the first while Piedmont had all five of its runs in the bottom of the fourth.
News & Notes
--JOSH THOMAS earned his sixth save of the season which has him first in the nation in that category.
Up Next
The Lions face the Scots Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the final game of the series wrapping up the first weekend of USA South conference play.
