Season Recap: Baseball 2023

• The Piedmont baseball team claimed the first CCS Baseball Tournament Championship to cap a successful 2023 season.
  • Kolton Hicks was named the 2023 CCS Most Valuable Player after an impressive tournament run including the eventual winning run with a solo homer in the championship.
• The Lions entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed in the tournament and defeated Huntingdon twice, Belhaven and ultimately Maryville for the championship.
• Piedmont was 26-17 overall in 2023 with an 8-9 mark in CCS play.
• A total of five Lions were named to the CCS All-Conference listing and and four earned spots on the CCS All-Tournament team.
  • CCS First Team: Mac Barton, Kolton Hicks, Carter Ballstadt, Bodie Eilertson
  • CCS Second Team: Cole Ellis
  • CCS All-Tournament: Carson Strovinskas, Kyle Carlson, Kolton Hicks, Zeke Swartz
• Three Lions also were named to the CSC Academic All-District listing and Carter Ballstadt earned CSC Academic All-America honors for the second year in a row.

• After beginning the year with a 2-1 record on the road at Cal Lutheran, Piedmont opened the home schedule with three wins over La Verne, #16 Lynchburg (eventual DIII National Champions) and Wilmington.
  • Piedmont used an eighth inning rally against La Verne in Friday's nightcap to claim a 9-7 victory. 
    • The Lions used a two-out rally in the eighth as Cole Ellis doubled followed by a TRACE CATE walk. CARTER BALLSTADT singled to drive in Ellis and tie the game at seven. In the next at bat, the clean-up hitter delivered as Carlson smashed one to right center to drive in Cate and Ballstadt and claim the lead for good.
  • Saturday, the Lions clung to victory for a 5-4 win over #16 Lynchburg.
    • Piedmont pounced on #16 Lynchburg with a five-spot in the first inning to claim a 5-4 win over the Hornets. 
  • Against Wilmington, the Lions left no doubt in a convincing 12-2 win the end the tournament. 
    • The Lions were able to score early and often with all 12 runs coming in the first five innings. The Quakers were forced to send out seven pitchers in the game with none throwing longer than 2.1 innings.

• Piedmont swept Emory during the month of March marking the first time the Lions swept a three-game stint against the Eagles since 2010. 
• The Lions won a doubleheader at Emory with a 10-5 win and a 12-1 victory before capping it off with an 11-2 victory at home.
  • In that three-game stretch, Piedmont outscored Emory 33-8. 
• In the series finale at home, ZACH COURTWRIGHT earned the win for the Lions moving to 2-1 on the year after pitching 5.2 innings. He allowed just two earned runs while striking out four batters.

• The Piedmont University baseball team claimed the first CCS baseball tournament championship May 8th with a 3-2 win over Maryville.
• The championship run came as the No. 4 seed as Piedmont took down No. 2 Belhaven, No. 3 Huntingdon (twice) and No. 6 Maryville.
• Zeke Swartz earned a win against Huntingdon in the tournament opener while Nathan Boyce earned his fourth save of the season.
• After no game action Friday due to weather delays, Piedmont faced Belhaven early on Saturday where the Lions took down Belhaven 4-2.
  • For the second straight game, Boyce earned the save as he had not allowed a hit in his last 5.2 innings of work, all coming in the CCS tournament. Boyce earned his fifth save of the season while Adam Metivier moved to 5-1 this year. 
• In control and needing two wins to take the title, Piedmont was unable to get the job done on Sunday dropping a 6-2 decision to Maryville but won an 8-5 contest against Huntingdon in an elimination game.
• That set up a winner take all championship Monday as Zeke Swartz earned the start on short rest and helped carry the Lions to victory. 

Championship Recap