NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 3, Cal Lutheran 5
Records: Piedmont, 0-1 - Cal Lutheran, 5-0

DEMOREST, Ga. - In the 2022 season opener, the Piedmont University baseball team dropped a 5-3 decision to Cal Lutheran Thursday. The Lions led until the top of the seventh when the Kingsmen used a four run burst to claim the lead. 

Piedmont was rolling early in this one with a lead in the bottom of the first after HUNTER CAIN sent one up the middle to score CARTER BALLSTADT. Piedmont increased the lead doubling down with a second run in the fifth inning as Ballstadt hit a sac fly to center to score SCOTT LYON.
 

B1 | Back-to-back walks combined with a wild pitch put runners on the corners for HUNTER CAIN who blasts one up the middle to score Ballstadt! RBI single puts Piedmont up!

Piedmont 1, Cal Lutheran 0 pic.twitter.com/zCbTX4usHM

— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) February 10, 2022

PEYTON IRVIN allowed one hit in each the first and second innings but then worked 1-2-3 frames until the sixth inning. In the seventh, he faced two batters before a pitching change was made. Irvin took the loss after a bases clearing double scored those two batters and put Cal Lutheran out in front. 
 

T4 | 1-2-3. That's ???.

Irvin sets them down in order with a strikeout to end the inning!

Piedmont 1, Cal Lutheran 0 pic.twitter.com/twZCxFpTmT

— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) February 10, 2022

Trailing 5-2 after the top of the seventh, the Lions struggled to connect offensively until the bottom of the ninth when Ellis singled to lead off the inning and was later driven in by DUKE WODETZKI. The rally came up short though as the Lions move to 0-1 heading into Friday's matchup against CNU.

TURNING POINT:
--The Kingsmen used a four-run seventh inning to break open the contest including a bases-clearing double from Kyle Reuser. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--COLE ELLIS was the lone Lion with multiple hits in the contest going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk in his Piedmont debut. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--PEYTON IRVIN earned the start pitching six innings with six strikeouts, five hits giving up three earned runs. 

UP NEXT: 
--Piedmont returns to action on Friday at Loudermilk Field hosting Christopher Newport at 6 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University 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.