Box Score

LaGrange, GA - The Lions' three game losing streak was officially brought to a skidding halt Friday night with a single swing of the bat, as Piedmont came out 3-1 winners over LaGrange College in a stingy pitching game by both sides.  Junior Kevin Caldwell pitched better than he has in quite some time, while seniors Curtis Cornett and Ed Cook came up clutch in PC's big Great South Athletic Conference victory.

The Lions struck first with a solo run in the top of the second on junior Tim Nunez' RBI double down the right field line, scoring in fellow junior Garrett Lovelace all the way from first after he led off the inning with a walk.  Nunez was stranded on third after advancing on a wild pitch.  The men clung to the 1-0 lead until the home half of the fourth when LaGrange pushed across its game-tying run.  Caldwell issued a leadoff double before a sac bunt and a strikeout put the runner on third with two away.  The junior ace then gave up a free pass and a single that tied the game before a fielder's choice grounder ended the threat.

Both teams put up goose eggs until Piedmont broke through in the eighth inning.  Sophomore Josh Bailey doubled to right center with one out, bringing up Cornett.  The first baseman hammered a pitch deep to left for a two-run homer that gave Piedmont a late 3-1 lead it would not relinquish.  Caldwell was never touched for another run and would only allow one other runner to reach second base.  He finished with seven innings pitched, allowing one run on five hits and three walks, striking out six along the way.  After going 9-1 a season ago, Caldwell now stands at 7-3 on the 2012 campaign with a 2.90 ERA.  Cook came in to shut the door for his 10th save of the season, going the final two innings of perfect baseball with three strikeouts.  He became the third Piedmont player in school history in the NCAA-era to record double-digit saves in a single season and career, following only Tom Dimitroff (14, 2008) and MATT COLLINS (13, 2011).

Bailey finished with a pair of hits, including his seventh double.  The Lions were able to come up with just six hits as a team, but got the leadoff man aboard in five of the first six innings.  Cornett's round-tripper was his third of the year and gave him 29 RBI as well.  The Lions are now 24-14 overall and take their 5-5 GSAC record into game two against the Panthers tomorrow with a 3:00 pm start time.  The regular season finale will take place Sunday at 2:00, while the GSAC Tournament will begin next Friday, again at LaGrange.