NEED TO KNOW:
Score Game 1: Piedmont 0, Belhaven 1
Score Game 2: Piedmont 1, Belhaven 9
Score Game 3: Piedmont 8, Belhaven 1
Records: Piedmont 2-2, Belhaven 2-1

JACKSON, Miss. – In the first road series of the year for Piedmont College baseball, the Lions managed a win in the final game against Belhaven 8-1 after dropping a doubleheader Friday evening. The first game of the series was a walk-off, 1-0, for the Blazers who claimed the second game Friday evening by a score of 9-1.

Game 1: Piedmont 0, Belhaven 1

It was a pitchers' duel in game one with a scoreless battle entering the ninth inning. CONNER JELLEY reached on an error by the third baseman to put one on and HEATH WALDROP entered to run. ZACH SWINDELL sacrificed Waldrop to second and a TYLER SHELEY single put runners on the corners with one out. Belhaven's Miller struck out SCOTT LYON and JACK BARTLEWSKI to keep it blank on the scoreboard.

SAM CARPENTER tossed a gem heading into the ninth inning allowing just four hits entering the inning. Carpenter allowed three singles before being replaced by CARTER BALLSTADT on the hill, but the Blazers were able to convert after a wild pitch moved two into scoring position. It was a single with two outs that won the game for Belhaven giving them their first victory of the season. 

Piedmont had its best offensive opportunity in the fifth inning leaving the bases loaded after a walk and two singles in the frame. The Lions tallied five hits and five walks in the contest while stranding 11 to Belhaven's one batter left on base. 

Game 2: Piedmont 1, Belhaven 9

The Blazers took complete control in the nightcap late Friday, scoring in each of the first two innings and building on their lead throughout the contest.

Piedmont starting pitcher JAKOB VALLEROY made it through five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out five.

The Lions did strike first, taking advantage of a Belhaven error as Bartlewski crossed the plate in the top of the first. However, the lead was short lived, as the Blazers scored a run on three hits in the bottom of the frame and took the lead for good with another run in the second.

While the Piedmont offense was held in check, Belhaven added two more in the fourth and a single run in the sixth before breaking the contest open with a four-run seventh to remove all doubt.

Sophomore right-hander NATHAN BOYCE delivered two scoreless innings of relief to end the night for Piedmont.

Game 3: Piedmont 8, Belhaven 1

Saturday was the Lions' day as Piedmont coasted to an 8-1 win in the series finale behind the arm of PEYTON IRVIN who pitched eight innings earning the win. The Piedmont offense was electric Saturday scoring eight runs on 12 hits with six walks added in. 

Irvin pitched 8.0 innings allowing seven hits, one unearned run and struck out four. JUSTIN MANUS polished off the game in the ninth tossing one clean inning of work with a strike out and a pair of ground outs. 

Piedmont's offense was rolling quickly, striking in the first inning after TYLER SHELEY led off the game with a triple to center field. Back-to-back extra base hits gave Piedmont a 1-0 lead after two batters as KYLE DEJESUS doubled to drive in Sheley.

The Lions were right back to work in the second inning scoring five as extra base hits continued to pile up. DeJesus tripled with the bases loaded for a bases-clearing 3-RBI triple to give Piedmont a 4-0 lead. DeJesus was driven in as the next batter JACK BARTLEWSKI sent one out in right field for his first homerun as a Piedmont Lion. 

Bartlewski's homer put the Lions up 6-0 in the second with a commanding lead. Piedmont added another in the third inning to lead 7-0 after an error led to SCOTT LYON scoring, unearned. Irvin never allowed more than two hits in an inning with the Blazers' lone run coming in the bottom of the seventh after the leadoff runner reached on an error. The Blazers were able to drive him in after a single and a fielder's choice. 

The Lions added another run in the next frame for good measure as JAMES WHITMER had a sacrifice fly to drive in Sheley. Manus replaced Irvin to start the ninth and made quick work of Belhaven to seal the win. 

TURNING POINT:
--Game one was a walkoff victory for the Blazers as they pieced together singles to claim the win in game one. 
-- Belhaven scored in each of the first two innings and never looked back in game two, rolling to the 9-1 victory.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--SAM CARPENTER took the loss on Friday in game one but tossed a gem going 8.1 innings allowing just seven hits and one run while striking out 11 batters. 
--KYLE DEJESUS was 2-for-3 with four RBI in Saturday's 8-1 victory for the Lions. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Piedmont left 11 batters on base in game one while Belhaven stranded only one. 
--JACK BARTLEWSKI hit Piedmont's first homerun of the year with a 2-RBI homer in the second inning Saturday.,

UP NEXT:
--Piedmont is scheduled to host Oglethorpe this Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. The Lions bested the Stormy Petrels, 11-2, in its season opener on Feb. 5.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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