NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 7, Methodist 3
Records: Piedmont, 9-4; Methodist 6-8

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – With a balanced effort offensively and on the mound, the Piedmont College baseball team picked up a sweep at Methodist Sunday with a 7-3 win. PEYTON IRVIN moved to 4-0 on the season with the win while CARTER BALLSTADT finished the final two innings closing out the contest for the second game in a row. 

Methodist threatened early in the bottom of the first with two hits combined with a walk and wild pitches, but Irvin left the bases loaded to escape the jam. The Lions would tack on two in the top of the second off just two hits. 

CARTER BALLSTADT was walked and reached third on a CAMERON JACKSON single. With runners on the corners, SCOTT LYON laid down a sacrifice bunt to send Ballstadt home. CONNER JELLEY doubled to trade places with Jackson on the next play and give Piedmont a 2-0 advantage. 

It was short-lived as the offense the Monarchs managed in the first inning resulted in momentum in the second. Methodist plated two runs to tie the contest off two hits and an error, but due to the error, both runs were unearned. 

Piedmont would put two more across in the third inning after a lead-off error put TYLER SHELEY aboard. Sheley advanced on a wild pitch, KYLE DEJESUS was walked and JACK BARTLEWSKI singled to drive in the go-ahead run. CARTER BALLSTADT had a sac-fly later in the inning to score DeJesus with what proved to be the game-winning run. 

It was quiet over the next three innings, but after the stretch in the seventh, the Monarchs added another run to make it a one-run game. In the ninth, Piedmont used four hits to plate three runs to leave no doubt. 

The three runs came after outs on back-to-back pitches to begin the inning. Piedmont saw back-to-back singles followed by a walk then another pair of singles. 
 
TURNING POINT:
--The two were tied at two after the second inning, but Piedmont added two more in the third inning to take a 4-2 lead which proved to be enough despite late insurance runs by the Lions. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--PEYTON IRVIN earned the win pitching seven innings allowing seven hits, three runs (one earned), and struck out four. 
--JAMES WHITMER was the lone Lion to record multiple hits going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
 
UP NEXT:
--Piedmont is scheduled to host Huntingdon beginning Friday at 7 p.m. at Loudermilk Field.

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.