Box Score

Lookout Mountain, GA -- The Piedmont College baseball team earned their 11th win of the 2011 season earlier this afternoon with a 7-5 victory over Great South Athletic Conference member Covenant College. The Lions never trailed in the first of a three-game series as a pair of PC batters blasted homers to help Piedmont sail past the hosting Scots.

Piedmont put up offense early as senior designated hitter Kevin McConnell posted a sacrifice fly to make the score 1-0 after one. In the second, the Lions doubled their lead on a fielder's choice making the lead now 2-0 after two.

The score remained unchanged until catcher Garrett Lovelace drilled a middle-inning, two-run home run putting the visitors up 4-0. With the lead being pushed to 5-0 through the seventh, Covenant finally got on the board with a three spot to cut the lead down to 5-3.

In the top of the ninth, McConnell would provide the insurance needed with a two-run homer of his own pushing the lead up to 7-3. Though the squad would give up a home run to the home team in the bottom of the ninth, closer Matt Collins shut the door on the Scots for good as the Lions claimed the two-run decision.

On the mound for PC, starter Kevin Caldwell went seven innings for the win to improve a perfect 4-0 on the season. The sophomore struck out five allowing just a pair of earned runs on the day as he continues to impress after being given honorable mention in last week's NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week voting.

Reliever Ed Cook came on in the eighth to bridge the Lions to the closer Collins who threw an inning and a third collecting his fourth save of the season. The steady staff has now put Piedmont a flawless 4-0 in Friday ball games during the 2011 season.

Offensively, the squad got a pair of homers on the day from the big bats of sluggers Kevin McConnell and Garrett Lovelace who combined to go 4-6 at the plate with six total RBIs. Lovelace also scored a pair of runs and knocked two doubles to go with his second home run of the season.

Also showing well at the dish was veteran middle infielder John Duke who went three for five while scoring a run. Duke also collected a pair of doubles while fellow infielder Ethan Miers was among a slew of Lions who swung the bat well going three for four in his appearances at the plate.

The victory moves the squad to 11-6 overall on the season improving the team's road record to an even 3-3 in 2011. PC will quickly wrap up the three-game weekend series with the Scots when they play a doubleheader at Covenant starting tomorrow morning at 11:00.