Box Score

Demorest, GA -- The Piedmont College baseball team could not quite catch back up to their in-state rival Oglethorpe University earlier this evening falling 10-8 after mounting a late inning comeback that fell just short.  After falling behind 8-1 in the fourth inning, PC rallied with a pair of three-run innings that put them in striking distance though the Stormy Petrels managed to hang on for the two run decision.

It was Oglethorpe who kicked off the offensive output almost right away tacking on a pair of runs in their first chance at bat in the bottom of the first. The Atlanta school then exploded for five more scores in the bottom of the second inning after holding PC scoreless through two.  

Piedmont would try to answer with a run in the third on a Kyle Davis RBI single that scored teammate Dale Bartek from third base.  However, the hosting Petrels would get that run right back in the bottom of fourth making the score 8-1 in favor of the home team. 

The Lions then dug in deep to make a run at the in-state foe in the fifth courtesy of a Curtis Cornett three-run homer that scored freshman Josh Bailey and sophomore Colton Bryant to cut the margin down to four.  PC pitching then chipped in as veteran arms Josh Strickland and Caleb Cochran sat down five of the next eight OU batters to keep the Lions close.

After holding Oglethorpe without a score over the next two innings, the Lions' bats got hot once more as James Moyer added another PC run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh.  A few batters later, John Duke knocked a single right up the middle to score a pair of Lions making the score read 8-7 Oglethorpe. 

The two foes would then trade runs over the next inning and a half before the Stormy Petrels closed the door on PC for good in the top of the ninth.  OU collected 14 hits while Piedmont marked up 13 of their own and the Stormy Petrels were responsible for the only error on the night.

Senior infielder Curtis Cornett led the way at the plate for PC going 2-for-4 while blasting a three-run home run in the fifth.  The Woodstock native scored a pair of runs himself while also grabbing six put outs in the field.

Also going 2-for-4 was Cornett's classmate Kevin McConnell who tallied an RBI and a run scored on the evening in the DH spot.  Junior Ethan Miers connected on two hits in his five chances at bat while collecting an assist in the field as well.  Getting the loss on the mound for PC was Matt Lisk who gave up three hits and two earned runs in an inning of work. 

The loss drops PC below .500 for the first time on the season at 2-3.  The Lions will continue their tough opening road to the season when they host Lynchburg College for a 3:00 afternoon game on Friday, February 18.