DEMOREST — In the final contest of the 2016 season, the Piedmont College baseball team defeated No. 7 Emory University 10-4 on Senior Day. Each of the eight seniors had a strong showing in their final outings in the Green and Gold.
After a scoreless first inning, the bats came alive in the second as Emory put up four runs in the top of the frame but Piedmont was able to answer with a pair of their own on three hits. Jake Browning singled with a pair on the basepaths to score Brady Ballstadt while Griffin Olson hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Brad Stinson but Piedmont left the bases loaded.
The Lions added another run in the bottom of the fourth after a hard hit grounder by Evan Gresham got past the infield scoring Will Skidmore making it 4-3. Piedmont tied the game in the bottom of the fifth after Ballstadt reached on a fielder's choice to score Chris White.
The scoring continued in the fifth as Skidmore hit a leadoff triple and came around to score on a Gresham ground-out to take the lead 5-4. Buddy Green pitched a near flawless four innings of work as he did not allow a run giving up just one hit, two walks and striking out three.
Allen Tokarz entered in the eighth inning and worked his way out of a bases loaded jam as he struck out the side keeping the Lions out in front. Tokarz left to a roar of applause as he left the mound for Piedmont for the final time.
Piedmont's offense came back to life in the bottom of the frame as they had a total of five runs on three hits and one error. Breck Davidson doubled off the right field wall scoring Skidmore then White reached on an error which allowed both Gresham and Davidson to score making it 8-4. Brad Stinson then sailed one over the center fielder for a 2-RBI double making it 10-4.
Josh Thomas closed out the ninth inning with a walk, double-play and a fly out to right field to end the season as Piedmont finished the year 21-19 overall.
