NEED TO KNOW:
Score: No. 14 Webster 3, Piedmont 2
Records: Webster, 1-0; Piedmont, 3-2

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - CARTER BALLSTADT homered for the second straight game, but the Piedmont baseball team fell 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth to No. 14 Webster on Friday afternoon in Millington, Tennessee.

In a well-pitched game that featured 23 combined strikeouts, runs were at a premium in a back-and-forth battle that saw the Gorloks jump out to an early lead with single runs in the second and third inning.

However, the Lions battled back, adding a run of their own in the top of the fourth before tying the game on Ballstadt's seventh inning blast.

Unfortunately, Webster received back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the ninth in a 2-2 game. Then, the Gorloks played small ball to push across the game-winning run, with a sacrifice bunt moving the runners to second and third before a squeeze bunt brought home the winning tally.

Piedmont starting pitcher PEYTON IRVIN was outstanding against the 14th-ranked Gorloks, setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts. The junior right-hander from Cornelia, Georgia went 7.0 strong innings and allowed just five hits and two runs, but closed strong. After surrendering the third inning home run, Irvin recorded 1-2-3 frames in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to close out his afternoon.

Webster starting pitcher Jordan Smevoll was also outstanding, firing 6.0 innings of three-hit, two-run ball with eight punch outs.

Ballstadt tallied three of the Lions' four base hits on the afternoon, including launching the game-tying solo homer in the seventh. Ballstadt also stole a pair of bases as the potential winning run after singling in the ninth. However, he was left stranded at third base as the threat was neutralized.

Up next, Piedmont will battle Rhodes tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. (ET).

TURNING POINT:
- The two leadoff singles and back-to-back sacrifice bunts pushed across the winning run for the Gorloks.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- In his last three games, Ballstadt has seven RBI, three extra-base hits, two home runs and four stolen bases.
- Irvin delivered a career-high 10 strikeouts over 7.0 fantastic innings on the mound.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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