NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 11, Methodist 2
Score: Piedmont 10, Methodist 4
Record: Piedmont, 8-4

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont baseball returned to action for the first time in over a week and came out hot with a pair of impressive victories over Methodist. The Lions scored in double-digits in both contests marking the fourth and fifth times they've hit double-digits this season.

Game 1: Piedmont 11, Methodist 2

Zeke Swartz continued to deliver dominant starting pitching and the Lions used clutch two-out hitting to race past the Monarchs 11-2 to open the series.

Entering the game in search of his first win of the season despite an ERA in the 1's, Swartz left no doubt on Sunday, throwing 7.0 innings and allowing just six hits and two runs to go with eight strikeouts, running his season total in K's to 30.

On the offensive side, the Lions scored their first eight runs of the game all with two outs and chased Methodist starter Andrew Baur in the third.

Nathan Mix tied his career-high with four RBI, going 4-of-4 at the plate while Isaak Mullanack earned the start in left field and went 3-for-4, matching Mix for a team-best four RBI.

Eight of the nine Lions in the starting lineup recorded a hit and Piedmont scored in double digits for the fourth consecutive home game.

Kyle Carlson and Mac Barton each scored three runs on 2-for-4 games while Owen Helgesen also added a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Lions struck for two runs in the second on a two-out RBI double by Mullanack and a single by Mix. Piedmont then tacked on four more to break the game open in the third to chase Baur. The third started with two quick outs, but the next six Lions reached and made it 6-0 after the third.

Piedmont added single runs in the fifth and sixth before adding three more in the eighth to pour it on as Swartz shut down the Methodist offense in another outstanding effort on the mound.

Game 2: Piedmont 10, Methodist 4

Methodist struck early against starter Peyton Irvin with a run in the first and another in the second. The Lions were quick to answer though in the home half of the second with a four spot on just two hits to lead 4-2. 

Irvin settled in and would not allow another run pitching six innings conceding just one earned run. The Monarchs tacked him for 10 hits but the damage was limited. 

Trace Cate hit a bases clearing triple in the fourth inning but was thrown out at home on the play. That increased Piedmont's lead to 6-2 and the Lions added four runs on four hits in the seventh inning making it 10-2. 

In the eighth, Bodie Eilertson surrendered two runs on two hits before giving way to Justin Manus who finished off the ninth. 

Piedmont was out hit in game two 14-11 but held the Monarchs to just four runs on 14 hits. 

Up next, Piedmont will host Methodist in the final game of the series Monday at 1 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
--Isaak Mullanack hit an RBI single in the third inning to put the Lions ahead 3-0 and the Monarchs were unable to keep pace in game one. 
--The Monarchs struck first but Piedmont answered in the second inning taking the lead 4-2 and led by as many as eight in the game. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Mullanack had a breakout day, going 3-for-4 in game one with four RBI while going 4-for-5 in game two with a total of five runs scored on the day. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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