NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 8, Covenant 9
Score: Piedmont 5, Covenant 8
Records: Piedmont, 13-14-1; Covenant, 13-15

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont University baseball team dropped a pair of contests to Covenant College Saturday concluding a three game series where the Lions were swept. Covenant won 9-8 in game one Saturday while taking the second contest by a score of 8-5.

GAME ONE:

The Lions were unable to stop the bleeding early as the Scots scored in the first three innings to take a commanding 8-1 lead. Covenant was on the board in the top of the first after a pair of two out walks gave way to a 2-RBI double. 

Piedmont answered back in the first with a run as CARTER BALLSTADT had an RBI groundout to drive in CONNER JELLEY. JAKE GARNER surrendered another run in the second, but it was the third inning that proved to be the game-changer. 

In the third, Covenant scored five runs on five hits and one error to take control of the contest. Leading 8-1, the Lions continued to scrap until the end scoring in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but the lead was insurmountable as they fell 9-8.

Piedmont used a total of six pitchers in the contest with no one pitching more than 2.2 innings. 

GAME TWO:

The Lions were able to keep it scoreless through the first inning, but in the second, the Scots picked up where they left off. Covenant added a run in the second, and exploded offensively for another four runs in the fourth. 

Two walks and a hit by pitch contributed to a four run inning off just three hits to give the Scots a 5-0 lead. Piedmont was able to answer in the fifth with three runs of their own trailing by only two. 

The momentum shift was temporary as the Scots added runs in the sixth and seventh to claim the lead for good. Piedmont continued to battle with a run in the eighth and the ninth, but was unable to mount a comeback. 

BRADEN SIMMS took the loss as the starter on the hill marking his first collegiate loss as four total pitchers were used. BODIE EILERTSON and KYLE YORK closed out the contest pitching the final three innings without allowing an earned run. 

Up next, Piedmont heads to LaGrange for a crucial conference series on the road beginning Thursday, April 14.

TURNING POINT:
--The Scots were able to use a five-run third inning to take control of the contest and lead 8-1 forcing Piedmont to play from behind throughout the contest. 
--It was once again a big inning that changed the contest as the Scots scored four in the fourth inning.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--JACKSON RANDOLPH and KYLE CARLSON both tallied three hits in game one with both adding two RBI. 
--ALEX GONZALEZ had one of two extra base hits for Piedmont in game two as one of three Lions to go 2-for-4 in the contest. 

NEWS AND NOTES:
--In total, the two teams left 47 runners on base across the 18 innings of competition. 

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.