NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 6, #20 Cal Lutheran 7 F/11
Score: Piedmont 12, #20 Cal Lutheran 9
Records: Piedmont, 2-1; Cal Lutheran 1-2

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Piedmont University baseball team completed its season-opening series against Cal Lutheran earning the series win taking two out of three. The Lions dropped game two of the series 7-6 in 11 innings after a walkoff for the Kingsmen but bounced back with a 12-9 win to end the series. 

Game 2: Piedmont 6, #20 Cal Lutheran 7 F/11

The Lions faced Cal Lutheran Friday afternoon in a game that was halted due to darkness and resumed Saturday in the top of the 11th. Piedmont was able to score and take a 6-5 lead, but left the bases loaded heading to the bottom of the frame. 

The Kingsmen were able to record a pair of singles and put two runners in scoring position after a sac bunt. A 2-RBI single up the middle provided the walk-off win for the home team to even the series. 

Piedmont fell behind 2-0 but got back into the game with a run in the sixth. Cal Lutheran also added another in the sixth before the Lions had an explosive offensive inning in the seventh. 

The Lions scored four runs on three hits and two errors to take a 5-3 advantage, but the Kingsmen answered again an inning later. 

Cal Lutheran added two runs on two hits and a walk with a 2-RBI triple to tie the game. 

Piedmont left seven runners on base in the final three innings of the game (9-11). The Lions record 12 hits to the Kingsmen's 11. 

Game 3: Piedmont 12, #20 Cal Lutheran 9

It was a fast start for the Lions in the final game of the series as KYLE CARLSON hit a homerun in the first inning. There were a total of six homeruns in the contest as the Kingsmen managed to hit five. 

Piedmont took a 4-0 lead before the Kingsmen got on the board with a solo homer in the second. The Lions were able to tack on four more in the third to increase the lead to 8-1 and looked to be cruising. 

Cal Lutheran managed a pair of homeruns in the fourth inning and another in the fifth to make it 8-6. ADAM METIVIER earned the start for the Lions going 4.2 innings allowing nine hits and six earned runs. 

In the sixth, Carlson added another pair of RBI with a single scoring COLE ELLIS and TRACE CATE, but the Kingsmen would again go yard in the frame with their first seven runs of the game coming off homeruns. 

The ninth inning saw both teams score a pair of runs for the final of 12-9. 

AIDAN COONEY earned the win for Piedmont pitching three innings while JUSTIN MANUS picked up the save. 

After beginning the season on the road, the Lions will be in action next Friday inside the friendly confines of Loudermilk Field for the Piedmont Early Spring Tournament where they will take on University of La Verne Friday at 4 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
--The Kingsmen were able to take the extra innings contest thanks to a walkoff 2-RBI single. 
--Piedmont's offense was explosive in the final game of the series with 12 runs against the Kingsmen in game three. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--TYLER NELSON was 3-for-4 in game two while also adding a hit, a run and an RBI in game three. 
--Both CARTER BALLSTADT and KYLE CARLSON went 3-for-5 in game three with Ballstadt scoring three runs while Carlson added five RBI. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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