Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 1, Maryville 4
Records: Lions 7-3 (0-1 USA South), Scots 4-5 (1-0 USA South)
Location: Maryville, Tennessee - Maryville College
Maryville, TN - The Piedmont College baseball team opened conference play Friday evening on the road in Maryville, Tennessee dropping a 4-1 decision to the Scots. The Lions loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but were unable to mount a comeback with the go-ahead run at the plate.
A walk coupled with a wild pitch with two outs led to the first run of the game as Maryville scored in the bottom of the second on an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Scots added three more runs on two hits including a 2-run home run by Bryce Redaja.
Piedmont's lone run came in the fourth inning as
TYLER BURDETTE was walked then stole second and scored on an
ANDREW BURDEN ground out to force the run across. Trailing 3-1, Piedmont recorded its first hit of the game in the top of the fifth as
COLLIN GRANT singled, but it was the ninth inning before PC would string together more than one hit in an inning.
In the top of the ninth,
GRIFFIN OLSON and
ANDREW BURDEN both singled to start the inning chasing the Scots' starter Evan Heffner after eight complete innings. Maryville put in Zach McGee who recorded a single out before Joe Jones came in and picked up the save as the bases were loaded following a
JABIN SMITH single, but the Lions' rally came up short.
MAX BENING took the loss while
DAVID CRAFT came in and pitched 2.1 clean innings of relief work as the sophomore from McDonough, GA posts a 1.08 ERA this season having given up just one earned run in five appearances.
Turning Point
--Piedmont allowed three runs in the bottom of the third inning to the Scots on two hits including a 2-run home run.
Standout Performances
--
DAVID CRAFT once again was stellar on the mound as he tossed the final 2.1 innings recording five strikeouts through 10 batters faced giving up just three hits and no runs.
Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont chased the Scots' starter Evan Heffner after two batters in the ninth inning as he pitched eight innings giving up five hits, two of those in the ninth inning, and just a single run.
News & Notes
--ANDREW BURDEN has recorded a hit in nine of 10 games this season going 2-for-3 Friday as the only Lion to record two hits.
Up Next
--The Lions continue the series at Maryville Saturday with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.
How to Follow
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