Box Score

Marietta, OH -- The Piedmont College baseball team could not quite catch up to #8 Marietta College earlier this afternoon as the nationally ranked squad held on for a 7-5 victory.  The Lions scored four runs in the seventh inning to come within two of tying up the score late, but the powerful Pioneers held on down the stretch for the home victory.

The Lions struck first in today's contest after Curtis Cornett led off the fourth with a single and then advanced to third one batter later on a Marietta fielding error.  The senior would later score to put visiting Piedmont ahead of the nationally ranked home squad 1-0. 

However, the potent offensive lineup of the Pioneers could not be held quiet for long as they posted a four spot in the bottom half of the same frame to surge in front 4-1.  Another three runs by #8 Marietta in the bottom of the sixth seemed to put the lid on the Lions as the Pioneers took a commanding 7-1 lead. 

To no surprise of any around the program, the Lions continued to fight hard proving they had more left in the tank as they promptly answered with four runs of their own in the eighth as Cornett once again reached on a single to spark the visitors.  Kevin D'Antignac later brought Cornett around to score on a RBI double just before he would also cross on a Marietta error.  

Those two runs brought Piedmont to within four of the home team as the squad climbed closer on a 2-RBI single from the hot bat of outfielder Kyle Davis.  The Warner Robins native continues to post a strong offensive 2011 season hitting over .400 while slugging just under .600 on the way to collecting 14 total RBIs.

Despite fighting back, the damage had already been done in a pair of costly defensive innings for the Lions as Piedmont fell to #8 Marietta by a final score of 7-5.  Taking the loss on the mound was Caleb Cochran who went five and a third giving up four earned runs and a walk while scattering ten hits.

Offensively, Curtis Cornett had a quality day at the plate going four for five with a pair of runs scored including the fourth inning strike that gave PC its sole lead of the afternoon.  The senior also record 11 put-outs in the field without recording an error having only posted a pair of fielding mistakes in the 2011 season.

The loss drops PC to 12-9 overall on the year and 0-2 in the Southeast Ohio Invitaional.  The Lions will look to get a victory before leaving the Buckeye state when they round out their three-game road stint with a 11:00 morning game against John Carroll University on Sunday, March 20.