NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 9, LaGrange 11
Score: Piedmont 8, LaGrange 5
Records: Piedmont, 22-12 (9-3 CCS); LaGrange, 19-12 (5-7 CCS)

LAGRANGE, Ga. - The Piedmont University baseball team was able to earn a doubleheader split at LaGrange Saturday dropping the first contest 11-9 before rebounding with an 8-5 victory in game two. 

Game one: LaGrange 11, Piedmont 9

LaGrange jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning and would add another in the third to lead 5-0. That forced an early departure from starter Bodie Eilertson after a walk to start the third inning. 

Peyton Irvin entered in relief and pitched four innings without allowing a run and surrendered just five hits. During that time, Piedmont was able to answer offensively scoring three runs in the sixth inning to trail 5-3. 

A single combined with three straight walks brought home the first run and a Tyler Nelson 2-RBI single accounted for the runs in the sixth. In the seventh, Piedmont went back to work with five runs on five hits and an error to lead 8-5. 

Irvin left in line for the win, but the Lions were unable to hold the lead as Jackson Randolph surrendered four runs despite none of them being earned. LaGrange pulled ahead 9-8 and added two more in the eighth. 

Piedmont attempted a ninth inning rally but was unable to complete it adding one run off a solo home run by Kyle Carlson. 

Game two: Piedmont 8, LaGrange 5

Once again, the Panthers were able to get to work quickly adding two runs in the first inning off starter Adam Metivier, but he was able to settle in for seven innings.

From the second through the seventh inning, Metivier pitched three up, three down in impressive fashion. Piedmont was able to score five in the second inning off four hits and pulled ahead 7-0 in the eighth inning after a Cole Harof home run and an error that drove in Cole Ellis. 

The Panthers did not go down without a fight scoring three in the bottom of the eighth and forcing Piedmont to the bullpen as Braden Simms entered with two on and nobody out. Simms was able to get out of the jam and closed out the ninth giving up just two singles.

The Lions added an insurance run in the top of the ninth but fortunately did not need it. 

Up next, Piedmont returns home for a weekend series against Huntingdon beginning on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. 

TURNING POINT:
--A four run seventh for the Panthers proved to be too much for Piedmont to overcome in game one. 
--It was a battle down the stretch in game two, but Piedmont had an established lead from early in the game and was able to cling to the lead. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Tyler Nelson was one of four Lions to post two hits in game one and led Piedmont with four RBI. 
--Braden Simms pitched the final two innings of game two without allowing a run and just two hits.

NEWS AND NOTES:
--The 11-9 loss in game one marks the highest run total Piedmont has posted in a loss this season. 

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.