Box Score

Greensboro, NC -- The Piedmont College baseball team opened their 2011 season in dominant fashion earlier this afternoon with a 19-0 victory at Guilford College. The Lions used top flight pitching combined with 21 total hits to cruise to a win in their season opener on the road.

Piedmont never committed an error in the nine inning affair this afternoon and scored in seven of the game's nine innings as well. In the double-digit victory, PC scored a single run in the second and third inning each before rattling off five runs over the fourth and fifth innings to race out to a 7-0 lead at the end of the fifth inning.

It was then that the Piedmont offense really kicked into high gear as the Lions scored six runs in a high-powered sixth inning at the plate. Senior Caleb Powell kicked off the sixth frame offensive showcase with a RBI single on a base hit to centerfield.

After Dale Bartek kept things going with another RBI single, the Lions would capitalize on a walk and a Guilford error to put two more runs on the board. Senior Kevin McConnell then added to the mix with an infield single that scored a run before the home team walked in the last PC run of the inning to open up a 13-0 lead for Piedmont on the way to a 19-0 victory.

Leading the way at the plate was veteran Dave Bartek who posted a perfect five-for-five day while also accounting for three of the squad's 19 runs. The senior was also aggressive on the base paths stealing three bags to continuously get in scoring position.

Joining Bartek as Lions who were perfect at the plate was senior Caleb Powell who went two for two scoring three runs and reaching safely in a number of ways. Powell was also walked once and hit by a pitch to get on base as the senior had a 5th inning sacrifice bunt as well that keyed a three-run frame for PC.

Freshman outfielder Josh Bailey was three of five in his Piedmont debut at the dish as he scored twice while batting in two more runs. Sophomore Dale Bartek was also three of five from the plate collecting three RBI's on the day while also scoring a pair of runs.

Sophomore Kevin Caldwell got the decision tossing seven scoreless innings to snare his first win of the season on opening day for the 2011 Lions. Pitchers Ed Cook and Matt Collins combined for two innings of work also not allowing a run and striking out five to tie up the win.

The victory moves Piedmont to 1-0 on the young season. The Lions will try to make it a perfect 2-0 on their trip to Greensboro as they face Guilford once more in a 2:15 game on Monday, February 7.