Box Score Zebulon, NC - The Piedmont College baseball team finished off a weekend sweep of USA South member Averett University earlier today when the Lions took a 6-3 Sunday victory over the Cougars.  Piedmont picked up strong innings from starter Chris Goershel and a pair of home runs from senior Josh Bailey who powered the Lions to the three-run win on the road as the boys from Demorest look to make a late run to the top of the USA South standings.  

Piedmont led the day off with a single in the top of the first as Will Skidmore stroked an Averett pitch to the gap in left center, a hit which looked like it may go to waste until Breck Davidson drilled a two-out single to left to score Skidmore who had stolen second just a few pitches earlier.  The Lions added to their lead with a single run in the 2nd when Austin Brick doubled in Evan Gresham as Piedmont looked to assume control of the contest early on.  

Up 2-0 after two complete, it was the first of two homers on the day from outfielder Josh Bailey that extended the lead to 3-0 as he hammered a Cougar offering over the wall in right in the 5th, a solo shot for the senior and his second of the season.  Averett would get two back in the home half of the inning to cut the Lions' lead down to just a single run though Piedmont doubled the advantage in the top of the 7th as Davidson collected his second RBI of the day with a single through the right side that scored Skidmore.

As the Green and Gold moved to the top of the 9th with still a one-run lead, Head Coach Jim Peeples looked for some insurance in the final inning, insurance that he would get when Griffin Olson hit a deep sac fly to center allowing Keith Grabowski to tag and score from third.  With the bases empty and two outs on the board, the threat looked to be over, but with Bailey stepping up to the plate, the Piedmont faithful knew the veteran may have other ideas.

Bailey did not intend on being retired to end the Lions' chance to extend their lead as he would hit his second solo homer of the game as he pulled a Cougar pitch over the fence in right center.  The two-out home run made the lead now 6-2 heading to the home half of the 9th where Averett picked up a run to cut the lead to three, but PC's pen held on to the win for starter Chris Goershel as the Lions completed a three-game sweep with the 6-3 road win.

Goershel got the win after going five and two thirds without allowing an earned run on six hits as he fanned five on the day.  Relievers Allen Tokarz and Josh Thomas combined to hold the Cougars without a hit in their two-plus innings of work while Jacob Brewster threw the 9th allowing just two hits and a run in the win.

The win moves Piedmont to 22-10 on the season and 14-7 in USA South play as the Lions sit in a tie for second place in the league standings in terms of winning percentage though the team they sit level with is Ferrum College, who has played three games more than PC in league action.  The Lions are just one game back of the Scots of Covenant College who sit in first place at 15-6 but swept the Lions in their matchup this season.

The sweep for PC sets up a big conference showdown this weekend as they take on the team they are tied with in the standings this coming Thursday in the first of a three-game set.  After hosting a mid-week contest at Loudermilk on April 15th set for 7:00 pm against Oglethorpe, the Lions head to Ferrum College for the conference series which begins on April 17th with a 7:00 pm night matchup, the first of three games between the two that could decide the top of the league.