Box Score

Demorest, GA - Goose eggs flooded the scoreboard for nine innings until Marietta finally tacked on the winning run on the way to an impressive 1-0 win over the Lions in a rubber match game continued from last week's dramatic split at Loudermilk Field.  Junior Kevin Caldwell, who hadn't pitched since his stellar outing in the previous win over the Pioneers, was in top form yet again.  Once again, however, the Lions' stellar pitching was evenly matched by a Marietta team who came in with a team ERA of 1.95.  Caldwell went the distance, nearly hurling a complete game, allowing just the one run with two outs in the ninth, giving up just four hits and three walks, while striking out three before being lifted for the final out of the ninth.

The game began and ended as a pitcher's duel despite the home team's chances to break through.  The Piedmont half of the third saw the Lions squander a golden opportunity to put runs on the board.  After junior Tate Koons singled to extend his hitting streak to eight games, he was thrown out attempting to steal for the second out of the inning.  With no one on base, the next three Piedmont hitters reached on two walks and a single, loading the bases with two away, bringing up cleanup hitter Garrett Lovelace.  The junior went down swinging as the game remained deadlocked in a scoreless tie.  The Lions' sparked the crowd again in the fourth inning when senior Ethan Miers nearly lifted a fly ball to left for a homerun, but the ball short-hopped the wall for a standup double with two away.  However, the visiting Pioneers were saved by a harmless groundout to second to end the threat.

Caldwell pitched with max effort but took home the tough-luck loss, as his record now stands 5-1.  Meanwhile, the Pioneeers' starter, Michael Mulvey, was equally effective, lasting seven frames, surrendering no runs on five hits, two walks and striking out eight batters.  Caldwell's dominance was in full display after giving up a leadoff single in the fifth.  The junior buckled down to retire the next 10 hitters in order before a runner finally reached again on an error.  Overall, a runner didn't earn his way aboard in 15 straight trips going into the ninth.

The Lions' ace was backed by solid defense, highlighted by a pair of great stops up the middle by junior Matt Youtsey and two great catches near the warning track by sophomore Josh Bailey, including a diving catch on the gravel running back and to his left for the first out of the ninth.  The right fielder was also robbed on a great defensive play when he slapped a ball back up the middle.  Mulvey got a glove on it, and the ball ricocheted and took a short hop to the shortstop, who fielded cleanly and threw out the speedy Bailey in the bottom of the fifth.

Mulvey was pulled in favor of ace pitcher Austin Blaski after seven innings of shutout baseball.  Blaski entered with a 0.39 ERA and dueled with Caldwell in the first of the three games.  He was met with Koons' second hit of the day, a base hit to right center to get things going in the eighth.  Leadoff hitter, senior Kyle Davis, attempted a sacrifice bunt to move Koons into scoring position.  He got more than he bargained for, as Blaski mis-fielded the bunt to put two on with none away.  A well-executed sac bunt by Bailey was then followed by an intentional walk to senior Curtis Cornett to load the bases for the second time on the day.  Blaski got pinch-hitter Kevin D'Antignac swinging for the second out before inducing a groundout from junior James Moyer that the shortstop went deep in the hole for .

Caldwell's effectiveness was fading in the ninth, despite a highlight-reel catch in right by Bailey and a pop out to second for the first two outs.  A one-out walk turned into a stolen base and a sharp single up the middle, scoring the game's only run.  Caldwell issued his third walk on the next hitter before senior Ed Cook came in for the final out.  The Lions' offense was shut down in the ninth without drama.

Cornett reached base all four at-bats with a couple of singles and a pair of walks, while the team tallied six total hits.  The Lions are now 14-5 on the season and will be in action again tomorrow at Loudermilk Field when playing host to Centre College, with game time slotted for 2:00 pm.