FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Thanks to another stellar performance on the mound by Gainesville's Sam Carpenter and Carter Ballstadt, the Piedmont College baseball team earned a 3-1 win over Methodist University on the road Saturday.
An offensive outburst in the sixth inning was enough to break up the pitcher's duel and propel the Lions to victory. Carpenter earned his fourth win of the season with an 8.0 inning outing allowing just four hits and one walk.
The lone run for the Monarchs came in the third inning after a lead-off single followed by an error. A sacrifice bunt sent home the run with two outs making it unearned.
Methodist held the lead until the sixth inning when the Piedmont bats came to life. Piedmont started the inning at the top of the order as Tyler Sheley doubled followed by Kyle Dejesus singling to put runners on the corners.
Jack Bartlewski singled to drive in Sheley, James Whitmer laid down a bunt single to send in DeJesus and Ballstadt was walked with the bases loaded to put three across the plate before the first out of the inning was recorded. That forced the Monarchs to the bullpen for their only pitching change of the game.
That was all the offense the Lions would manage, but it was enough to seal the win. Four of Piedmont's nine hits came in that inning with Piedmont out-hitting the Monarchs nine to five.
TURNING POINT:
--The Lions had a three-run sixth inning that allowed Piedmont to take the lead and the offensive outburst was enough with the pitching performance defensively.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Carpenter once again had an outing allowing no earned runs as he pitched 8.0 innings allowing four hits and one walk while striking out six.
--Ballstadt earned his second save of the season pitching the final inning allowing just one hit to the four batters he faced.
UP NEXT:
--The Lions will face the Monarchs once more on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Fayetteville.
