BREVARD, N.C. — In the final regular-season game of the year, the Piedmont baseball team delivered when it mattered most winning 8-2 on the road at Brevard to advance to the USA South First Round.
It was a six-run fourth inning that sparked the Lions as the bats came alive with seven hits including three extra-base hits in the inning. Tyler Sheley doubled to drive in Carter Ballstadt and Jack Bartlewski giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
Zach Norman homered to left with a three-run shot bringing in Cameron Jackson and Sheley making it 5-0 and James Whitmer added the sixth run on a flyout by Tyler Smith.
With a 6-0 lead, Gainesville's Sam Carpenter continued to cruise as he had allowed just one hit through the first four innings. The Tornados pieced together small ball to score a run in the sixth off just one hit and a walk and scored their lone run on a solo homer in the seventh.
The Lions had upped their lead to 8-0 before the Tornados got on the board with two more runs in the sixth inning after two hits and an error. Piedmont's pitching staff continued to impress as Justin Manus entered in the eighth inning to close out the contest.
Manus did not allow a hit or a walk in his appearance tossing two clean innings. Piedmont totaled 15 hits led by Bartlewski who was 4-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Five total Lions tallied two or more hits in the game.
Up next, Piedmont will head to LaGrange for the USA South West Division First Round with the winner of the best-of-three series advancing to the USA South Championship.
TURNING POINT:
--The Lions used a six-run fourth inning to take control of the contest scoring six on seven hits in the frame.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Carpenter earned the win pitching seven innings allowing three hits and two runs, while Manus entered in relief pitching the final two innings without allowing a hit and struck out one.
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