Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 7, LaGrange 5
Records: Lions 10-5 (2-3 USA South), Panthers 13-2 (4-1 USA South)
Location: Demorest, Georgia - Loudermilk Field
Demorest, GA - The Killer B's were at it again bringing the Milk Jug magic as Piedmont toppled #16 LaGrange 7-5 Saturday afternoon thanks to a grand slam by
TYLER BURDETTE in the fifth inning. The Lions were ahead 2-0 in the fifth before Burdette's homer made it 6-0 and provided the winning hit for PC as the sophomore recorded his first homerun of his career.
It was a quiet game in the early going as neither team recorded more than two hits in an inning until the Lions' offense went off in the fifth inning with six runs on five hits and one error. After
JABIN SMITH reached on an error, PC had four straight hits led off by a
BRADY BALLSTADT double.
GRIFFIN OLSON then singled to score Smith followed by Ballstadt coming home on an
ANDREW BURDEN single.
ZACH LANGLEY loaded the bases with a single, then with two outs,
TYLER BURDETTE proved to be the man of the hour with the grand slam making it 6-0 and all PC. LaGrange answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth while the Lions added another insurance run in the sixth as well after the Panthers walked in a run.
A two out, two-RBI double made it 7-4 in the top of the seventh then another run scored for LaGrange in the ninth after
BUDDY GREEN walked a pair of batters and gave up a single. The run marked the first run of the season that Green has allowed as the junior earned his first save.
BEN MCCURLEY improved to 3-0 giving up just two earned runs while striking out five batters while Panthers' starter Andrew Weekley took the loss, his first of the season.
Turning Point
--
TYLER BURDETTE's grand slam proved to be the difference in this contest as the sophomore notched his first career bomb in bases-clearing fashion to put PC ahead 6-0 with the game-winning hit.
Standout Performances
--Four Lions had two or more hits in the game with
BRADY BALLSTADT accounting for three hits while the other pair of Killer B's,
ANDREW BURDEN and Burdette, added two each along with senior
ZACH LANGLEY.
Inside the Box Score
--Burdette's home run is the fifth home run of the season for the Lions and the first of his career in the Green and Gold.
News & Notes
--The loss marks just the second of the season for LaGrange who is now 14-2 with the only other loss coming to Birmingham-Southern.
Up Next
--The finale between these two set for a 2:00 pm first pitch on Sunday, March 5.
How to Follow
To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, Snapchat: @PiedmontLions and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.
