NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Methodist 6, Piedmont 5 (F/10)
Game 2 Score: Methodist 11, Piedmont 7
Records: Piedmont, 10-5; Methodist, 13-1

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The No. 25 Piedmont baseball team dropped a couple of close calls in a Saturday doubleheader at No. 19 Methodist.

Piedmont lost in walk-off fashion in game one after holding a 5-0 lead in the early going before falling in back-and-forth slugfest in game two 11-7.

Game 1: Methodist 6, Piedmont 5 (F/10)

The Lions jumped out to a hot start on offense in game one, plating five runs in the top of the second. However, the Monarchs fought back over the course of the game, tying the score at 5-5 in the seventh and eventually winning in walkoff fashion in the 10th.

With one out in the top of the second, senior first baseman JAMES WHITMER doubled down the right field line to bring home a pair of runs to open the scoring. Then, after a COLE ELLIS single to right, second baseman KOLTON HICKS went the opposite way as well, driving home Whitmer and Ellis to make it 4-0 Lions. Hicks then came home on a wild pitch to complete the five-run frame.

Piedmont starter BODIE EILERTSON cruised through the first two innings but ran into trouble in the third as Methodist cut into the Piedmont lead with three runs on three hits but a caught stealing ended the threat.

After giving up a leadoff single to begin the bottom of the sixth, Eilertson gave way to long reliever BRADEN SIMMS, who went the rest of the way for Piedmont. 

The Monarchs were able to scrape across single runs in the sixth and seventh to knot the score at 5-5 while the Piedmont offense struggled to gain traction. The Lions recorded just one hit from the start of the sixth inning on.

Simms did admirable work in relief to hold the game at a 5-5 tie. However, as he entered his fifth inning of work in the 10th, Methodist was able to play small ball, parlaying a leadoff single into the game-winning run. The Monarchs used a sacrifice bunt to advance the run into scoring position and a walk-off bunt finished the rally and ended the game.

Game 2: Methodist 11, Piedmont 7

Unlike in the first game of the day, this time it was Methodist's turn to jump out to an early lead, as they plated three runs off Piedmont starter ZEKE SWARTZ in the bottom of the first. 

However, that lead did not last long. KOLTON HICKS continued his scorching hot start to the season with a two-run blast to left field to cut the Piedmont deficit to 3-2 before a TYLER NELSON single brought home CARTER BALLSTADT to knot the score at 3-3.

The Monarchs answered back to retake the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. That is where the game remained until the Lions took advantage of three free passes  and a Methodist error in the top of the seventh to score three times, as NATHAN MIX's 2 RBI single drove home a pair and gave Piedmont a 6-5 lead heading to the stretch.

Unfortunately, the bottom of the inning mirrored the top, as the Monarchs scored four times without the benefit of a hit to retake the lead for good. Overall, it was two walks, two hit by pitches and a pair of errors that allowed the game to turn.

Ballstadt launched his fourth home run of the season in the eighth, a solo shot to right center. However, the Monarchs were able to add two more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to hold a comfortable four run lead going to the ninth.

Up next, the Lions and Monarchs will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Game one saw the Monarchs score six unanswered runs to eventually win in extras after Piedmont jumped out early with a five-run third inning.
- In game two, Methodist turned a one-run deficit into a three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, without the benefit of a base hit.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- KOLTON HICKS drove home four runs on the day, including a two-run blast in game two.
- Ballstadt continues to build on his career home run record, launching his fourth of the season in game two.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont now stands at 10-5 on the season with four of the five losses coming by one or two runs.

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.