NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Huntingdon 6, Piedmont 3
Records: Huntingdon, 23-15; Piedmont, 29-10
 
LaGRANGE, Ga. – The No. 12 Piedmont College baseball team was eliminated from the USA South Tournament with a 6-3 Friday afternoon loss to Huntingdon in West Point, Georgia.
 
For the second straight game, the Lions (29-10) found themselves trailing by a five-run margin in the early innings. Although they held the Hawks (23-15) to just one run over the final seven frames, the margin was too big to overcome.
 
The game got off to a troubling start for Piedmont as Huntingdon leadoff hitter Wes Powell reached on an error and eventually came around to score one of two unearned runs that the Hawks added in the opening frame.
 
The Hawks then took advantage of four base hits and another PC error to tack on three more runs in the top of the second to chase Piedmont starter MAX BENING from the game.
 
Trailing 5-0, right-hander DAVID CRAFT entered for the Lions and held the Huntingdon offense to just one run over 5.1 innings of work with six strikeouts.
 
Piedmont finally cracked the scoreboard with a run in the fifth before cutting its deficit to 6-3 with two more in the sixth on a BRADY BALLSTADT double.
 
However, the Lions were held in check over the final three innings, as Huntingdon starter Brooks Freeman finished off the complete game and sent the Lions home from the tournament after just two contests.
 
TURNING POINT:
- Huntingdon scored five times over the first two innings to take a commanding 5-0 lead that held the rest of the way.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- BRADY BALLSTADT drove in all three runs for the Lions, with two coming on a sixth-inning RBI double.
- TYLER SHELEY was the only Lion to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot.
 
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, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.