Box Score

LaGrange, GA - The Lions took a 9-2 win over LaGrange College in the rubber match game after both teams won by a 3-1 final in game one and two.  A three-run first inning set the tempo for the visitors, while a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by a blistering homer by junior Garrett Lovelace, secured the victory, evening the Lions' Great South Athletic Conference record at 6-6.

After loading the bases to start the game with nobody out, Piedmont's Lovelace grounded into a fielder's choice to get the first run across.  Junior James Moyer laid down a safety squeeze that got a second run across before junior Tim Nunez singled to center for the 3-0 lead.  The host Panthers got one of those runs back in the home half of the opening frame, reaching sophomore Matt Lisk for an early run.  Lisk was very effective throughout the contest, picking up his fifth win of the season after going 6.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on just two hits and six walks while striking out three.

Sophomore Josh Bailey led off the third inning with a double, and advanced to third on a single by Lovelace.  Moyer was walked to load the bases yet again, leading to a Nunez RBI single, making it 4-1 in favor of the away team.  LaGrange got out of a jam with a couple of outs to end the threat, and later pulled within 5-2 after an unearned run in the seventh.

Feeling the pressure, the Lions' offense came to life with four runs to seal the win.  The bases were full once more with just one out, leading to a sacrifice fly by senior Curtis Cornett, but the next play was the game's biggest.  Lovelace hit a towering homerun down the left field wall for a three-run shot, pushing the lead to 9-2.  The men combined for 12 hits in the win, with Lovelace, Nunez, Moyer and senior Ethan Miers all coming up with two hits each.  Moyer tripled and walked along with his single.  Lovelace's homer marked his fourth of the season, tying senior Kyle Davis and Bailey for the team lead.  The Lions are now 25-15 overall and 6-6 in GSAC competition heading into next weekend's GSAC Championship Tournament at Maryville College.