Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 5, Guilford 6
Records: Lions 0-1 (0-0 USA South), Guilford 1-0 (0-0 USA South)
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina - Guilford College

Greensboro, N.C. - In the 2017 opener and the first game of the Justin Scali era at Piedmont, the Lions came up just short at Guilford dropping a 6-5 contest Friday. The Lions led twice in the game and tied it at five in the seventh inning, but after the stretch, Guilford tacked on another run for the game-winner.

The Lions got on the board quickly, capitalizing on Guilford errors, as the Quakers had a pair of errors in the first inning allowing PC to score without a hit. BRADY BALLSTADT reached on a throwing error to lead off and ANDREW BURDEN reached on a dropped fly ball in the outfield which scored GRIFFIN OLSON. Olson was walked one batter earlier giving Piedmont a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard after the opening half inning.

The Quakers tacked on a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to even the score, but it was Burden who would come through in the fifth inning with a 2-run home run to put Piedmont ahead 3-0. GRIFFIN OLSON scored on the play after getting aboard on a single then advancing all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt by the Quakers' Ryan Hill.

The 3-1 lead was short-lived as Guilford scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth as well to knot it up yet again, answering Piedmont's homer with back-to-back singles and a double down the right field line. MAX BENING earned the start for Piedmont tossing 5.1 innings, giving up just two hits through the bottom of the fourth and tossed three innings of work facing four batters or less. 

Bening earning a no decision as he left the game down 4-3 giving way to DAVID CRAFT who made his first appearance as a Lion. Piedmont came back to score two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh to tie the contest, but again the Quakers answered in the bottom of the frame, this time with the game winner. Craft took the loss while RYAN STEWART closed out the contest giving up just a pair of hits to the nine batters he faced over two innings of work. 

Piedmont had a total of seven hits in the contest with both Olson and Burden accounting for a pair with Olson going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a pair of walks while Burden was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. 

Turning Point
--A Logan Washle single in the seventh inning scored the game winning run as Trevor Denton scored on the play after being walked to begin the inning. 

Standout Performances
--ANDREW BURDEN went 2-for-5 at the plate with two RBI as he hit a 2-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to put PC ahead 3-1. 
--GRIFFIN OLSON also accounted for a pair of hits going 2-for-3 in the game while adding a pair of walks and three runs scored. 

Inside the Box Score
--Guilford had a total of five errors in the game while the Lions had just a one in the contest. 

News & Notes
--This marks the second straight season Piedmont has opened the season against the Quakers with last year's pair of contests coming in Demorest. 

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