Box Score | Photos of 2011 Seniors

Demorest, GA -- The Piedmont College baseball team completed a three-game weekend sweep of defending Great South Athletic Conference champion LaGrange College earlier this afternoon with a 7-5 victory on Senior Day at Loudermilk Field.  Paying tribute to the graduating class of the baseball program prior to this afternoon's first pitch, the Lions made sure to give their veterans one to remember as today's two run victory jumped Piedmont into sole possession of first place in the GSAC standings.

Though the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, it was clear from almost right at the get-go that it was to be the day of the Lion as PC pummeled the Panthers starting pitcher for four runs in the bottom of the first.  It was to no surprise that Piedmont jumped on the starter early on as the Lions collected an astounding 21 runs off the LaGrange trio of weekend starters in this three-game sweep.

Piedmont's four-run first started with yet another Kyle Davis triple, his ninth of the season, as the junior outfielder would come around to score on the next at-bat for PC, a single from fellow outfielder Tate Koons.  Once the bases were loaded for senior Kevin McConnell, the big DH stood in to take a hit by pitch sending Koons across the plate for a 2-0 lead.

A pair of sac flies from catcher Garrett Lovelace and third baseman Ethan Miers would round out the scoring for the home team in the bottom of the first as the Lions went ahead 4-1.  After starting pitcher Dusty Black held the Panthers scoreless in the top of the second, another Lions senior would step up big as first baseman Curtis Cornett belted a two-run homer over the left field wall in the Piedmont second to extend the home team's lead to 6-1 after two.

In the third, LaGrange added a pair of runs to the cause giving the visitors a three-run deficit until another PC score in the bottom half of the frame push PC out to a 7-3 lead.  That Lion third inning run came courtesy of the bat of another senior in centerfielder Dave Bartek as his RBI single scored Miers handing Head Coach Jim Peeples a four-run lead to work with over the final six innings.

LaGrange looked to threaten in the top of the fifth getting two runs off the veteran starter Dusty Black putting the Panthers in striking distance with a baserunner still aboard.  However, the steady hand of Black induced the next hitter to fly out to center getting the Lions in the dugout with still a two-run margin. 

It was then the home team bullpen went to work as three relievers came in to not allow a hit over the final three innings with a pair of seniors leading the way.  First up was senior Josh Strickland who tossed a scoreless seventh before junior arm Ed Cook threw a flawless eighth retiring all three batters he saw to set up a crucial ninth inning.

Taking the ball for Coach Peeples in the ninth was none other than the senior closer Matt Collins who tallied his ninth save of the year by sitting down each of the Panthers who came to the plate.  Collins' nine saves in 2011 sits just five behind the season record of 14 set by Tom Dimitroff in the 2008 championship season.

Black got the win on the mound for Piedmont to move to 6-3 on the year including a perfect 2-0 mark in GSAC action.  Seniors also dotted the list of leading hitters on the day including infielder Curtis Cornett who finished a triple shy of the cycle with a home run, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored.

Designated hitter Kevin McConnell picked up a stolen base and was two for three with a RBI while second baseman John Duke went two for four in his chances scoring in Piedmont's four-run first.  Centerfielder Dave Bartek grabbed a bag on the way to a one for three performance with a RBI to boot.

Now 21-12 overall, the Lions move to 5-1 in conference play to take sole possession of first place in the league standings.  Next up for Piedmont will be a mid-week game against the Stormy Petrels of Oglethorpe University as the in-state rival repays a visit from the Lions earlier in the year.  OU took that early season battle 10-8, but the Lions now host the re-match at Loudermilk Field on Wednesday, April 13 for a 7:00 first pitch.