NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 7, Berea 2
Records: Piedmont, 15-10 (2-4 CCS); Berea, 6-22 (2-7 CCS)

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont University baseball team earned a 7-2 victory Sunday over Berea to claim its first CCS conference series. 

The Mountaineers were off to a hot start with two runs in the first inning, but from there, ZACH COURTWRIGHT settled in for an impressive outing. 

Courtwright pitched 8.0 innings tying his longest outing of his Piedmont career giving up nine hits and just two runs. He walked three batters and had six strikeouts. 

The Piedmont offense was quieted through the first two innings but in the third, the Lions managed to score three runs on three hits. CARTER BALLSTADT got the Lions on the board first with an RBI single to score COLE ELLIS and cut the deficit in half. 

With two outs, TRACE CATE put the Lions ahead with a two-RBI single to make it 3-2. It was a quiet offensive day from that point as Courtwright kept the  Mountaineers at bay. 
 

T4 | Mountaineers have a double in the inning but Courtwright has quieted Berea since the first.

Piedmont 3, Berea 2 pic.twitter.com/IMYwZxlglr

— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) April 2, 2023

Berea had no more than two hits in any inning and were held hitless over the final three innings. BRADEN SIMMS entered to pitch the ninth facing four batters with one walk in the frame.

The Lions threatened a few times and were able to capitalize after the stretch with three runs in the seventh inning. Ballstadt again got it done with a 2-RBI double to make it 5-3.
 

B7 | Bring 'em home! CARTER BALLSTADT with a 2-RBI double and the lead increases!

Piedmont 5, Berea 2 pic.twitter.com/UYaSqlMfSs

— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) April 2, 2023

TYLER NELSON added a sac fly to drive in Ballstadt and secure a 6-3 lead for the Lions and an inning later, TYLER NELSON added a sac fly to plate the final run. 
 

We win, Mix gets the mic. ??

Ballstadt goes 3-for-4 with three RBI and Piedmont takes its first CCS series with a 7-2 win over Berea! #d3b pic.twitter.com/1IpYkDBQTQ

— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) April 2, 2023

The Lions will head to Oglethorpe Tuesday for a non-conference midweek matchup. 

TURNING POINT:
--Piedmont used a pair of three run innings to secure the victory with three runs in the third and the seventh innings. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--ZACH COURTWRIGHT pitched eight innings for the Lions allowing nine hits and two runs. 
--KOLTON HICKS recorded his 22nd and 23rd stolen bases of the season as he ranks third in all of Division III in stolen bases this season. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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