Cary, N.C. - The Piedmont College baseball team rallied to take the series finale against William Peace on Sunday 7-2 behind a solid outing from senior starter
MAX OBERKOFLER. In one of his final outings of his career in the Green and Gold, Oberkofler tossed six innings, giving up six hits and only two runs.
The senior struck out two and only walked three batters on the day in his 10th appearance of the season for the Lions. Oberkofler has hurled 52.2 innings this season, boasting a 4-2 record, with a 3.76 ERA which is the lowest amongst starters for Piedmont.
The Lions also saw another good offensive production out of the lineup as the team amassed 11 hits in the game and scored seven runs.
It was a pitcher's duel for the first five innings as only one run was scored, that being in the bottom of the fourth by the home-standing Pacers. Neither team had a hit or a batter reach base until William Peace had a single and a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third.
WILL SKIDMORE ended the Pacers' no-hitter in the following frame with a lead-off single in the fourth inning, but that was the only Lion to reach base then. The scoreless game was put to bed in the bottom of the fourth as William Peace sent seven batters to the plate but only managed one run.
All the damage was done for the home team with two outs as the first two batters grounded out and struck out respectively. The Pacers then saw J.T. Howington single and Jacob Ennis double to put two runners in scoring position, but only Howington would score on a passed ball making it 1-0.
The Lions saw another hit in the top of the fifth as
CASEY PARHAM singled, but it was not until the sixth that the Lions' bats came alive. The Piedmont lineup scored twice on three hits in the frame to take the lead 2-1.
Skidmore again singled to lead-off followed by
TYLER MARCINKO doing the same, then both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch putting two runners in scoring position.
EVAN GRESHAM picked up the first of his two RBI on the day scoring Skidmore then
ZACH LANGLEY added the second RBI of the day on a sacrifice scoring Marcinko.
The Lions continued to pour it on in the top of the seventh as they added another four runs on three hits making it a 6-1 game and beginning to put the game out of distance for the Pacers. William Peace pulled their starter and moved to the bullpen to begin the inning, but the Lions continued their offensive showcase.
CASEY PARHAM was walked,
KEITH GRABOWSKI was hit by a pitch and
WILL SKIDMORE reached on an error to load the bases with one out before a hit had been made. Marcinko changed that, however, knocking a double scoring two to put PC up 4-1.
Gresham recorded his second RBI of the day as Skidmore scored on Gresham's single.
BRECK DAVIDSON also singled to bring in the final run of the inning and forcing another pitching change by the Pacers.
William Peace would add another run in the bottom of the seventh but with
ALLEN TOKARZ in the game, it was too little too late against the junior who picked up a strikeout in the inning and got the Lions out of a jam.
The Lions would tack on one more run in the top of the ninth for good measure as
DANIEL LINDSEY hit a sacrifice scoring Gresham and wrapping up a 7-2 afternoon for the men in Green and Gold.
JOSH THOMAS came in to close out the ninth, doing what he does best, as he faced three batters and sent them all packing including striking out one.
EVAN GRESHAM led the way for the Lions with his 3-for-5 day at the plate including two RBI and a run scored. Gresham was one of four batters with a multiple hit game as Skidmore, Marcinko and Davidson all had two hits in the game.
The Lions now move to 19-13 overall and 15-12 in conference play with just one USA South series remaining during the season. That will be against Greensboro next weekend but before that, Piedmont will travel to Atlanta, Georgia for a rematch with Oglethorpe University on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
