The Piedmont College baseball team got the 2008 season off to a good start with an 8-7 victory over visiting NCAA Division-III south region foe Randolph-Macon College this afternoon at Loudermilk Field. The Lions never trailed and held off a late-inning charge from the Yellow Jackets and scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the victory.

PC retired Randolph-Macon in order in the top of the first inning and then struck quickly with four runs in the home-half capped by a MATT DEVITO three-run homer. After a scoreless second inning Piedmont added a single run in the third on a TRAVIS HUNT solo homerun, the first of his career.

The Lions led 6-2 entering the top of the fifth where the Yellow Jackets produced a four-run inning on five hits to knot the score of six runs apiece. Piedmont responded an inning and a half later with a solo run on a JUSTIN OATES sacrifice fly scoring JUSTIN VORHERR.

RMC tied the game in the top of the eighth before freshman JOHN DUKE drew a bases loaded RBI-walk in his first career plate appearance. TOM DIMITROFF then secured the final three outs with a scoreless ninth for the victory.

Hunt and ANDY HOUSE led PC with a pair of runs scored respectively while ANDREW MIGETZ chipped in with a triple and a RBI. B.J. HAMPTON threw two innings of scoreless relief striking out two while JOSH MCEACHIN added a scoreless seventh inning with a strikeout.

The victory moves Piedmont to 1-0 on the young season. The Lions will play host to a weekend series with Guilford College beginning Saturday, February 9th at 1:00.