NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 3, Chapman 0 (F-12)
Records: Piedmont, 1-0; #22 Chapman, 0-1

ORANGE, Calif. - While the Piedmont University baseball team may be in the Golden State, it seems the extra-inning magic that has become a staple of the historic program travels just as well as the Lions do with the Demorest-based squad tallying a 3-0 shutout win of #22 Chapman University on the road earlier this evening.  

The contest was a good old fashioned pitchers' duel most of the night as neither team put up more than five hits through nine complete providing bonus baseball in the opener out in Cali.  For Piedmont, it was the second time that an extra inning game would be played in its season-opening series with the last also coming in California as the Lions visited Cal Lutheran to open 2023. 

The Lions' pitching staff was incredible throughout the evening with the starter Zeke Swartz throwing five complete innings and only allowing two hits on the night.  Though the starter was stellar, Peyton Irvin's stuff on the mound was just as filthy with the veteran also throwing five complete as the Cornelia native struck out 11 Panthers in his outing. 

For Irvin, the strikeout total was a new career single-game best but not the first time he totaled double-digit strikeouts in a game.  The last and only such instance came in Irvin's showing back in February of 2022 when he needed seven innings to K ten batters against Webster. 

Offensively, Piedmont's best two opportunities to end the contest before extras likely came in the 4th and 9th innings as both frames would see the Lions leave a pair stranded.  In the 4th inning, it was a pair of 1-out singles from Piedmont with Jack Ryan and Trace Cate accounting for the hits.  

With runners on the corners and only one out, the first run of the ballgame looked promising until Chapman Henry Chabot struck out a pair of batters to end the challenge.  

In the top of the 9th, Piedmont again got back-to-back singles to kick off the threat as Jack Gilsenan and Cole Ellis tallied the base knocks that started up the visitors' dugout.  A fielder's choice at 3rd dampened the mood though keeping Piedmont's go-ahead run at 2nd, and back-to-back strikeouts by the Chapman pitching staff once again brought the momentum back to the home fans looking for a walk-off win to start '25.  

The 10th inning would put the pitchers' duel to the test as Chapman put two on with two out after a pinch hit single to left from Nick Naccarato started the trouble for Piedmont's pitching which had combined with the home team to only give up a combined 10 hits through that point.  

After Austin Dudas was intentionally walked to put a force around the infield, Peyton Irvin decided to just handle it himself striking out Chapman's Joey Capobianc to end the threat and give Piedmont new life in the 11th as free baseball rolled on out West.

Just when it seemed as though fans may need to settle in for a few more innings with neither team submitting to defeat, the top of the 12th came along and favored the visiting Lions.  Piedmont began the inning with a walk followed by a Kyle Carlson double to right that plated pinch runner Matt Dupuis for the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run.

But the Lions were not done as Sean Bailey took out seemingly the entire game's offensive frustrations when he drilled a 2-run home run that still hasn't landed putting the lead to a seemingly out of reach three runs. 

Piedmont's 3-run 12th then set up the nation's save king as Braden Simms, last year's NCAA leader in Division III saves, would take the ball and slam the door shut on any home team hope of a rally.  Simms struck out the first two batters he faced before a 2-out walk put a runner on for Chapman, but it was too little, too late as Simms induced the ground out to second that sealed the 3-0 win over the top 25 foe.  

Up next, Piedmont will take on Chapman in game two Saturday at 4 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- The top of the 12th was the breakout moment for Piedmont as Carlson's RBI double was followed up by Bailey's 2-run homer that broke the game wide open in extras.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Sean Bailey picked up the insurance home run in his only plate appearance of the evening after coming into the game in the 10th inning.
- Braden Simms recorded a save in his first appearance to pick up where he left off in 2024 as the NCAA Division III National Statistical champ in the same category.
- Peyton Irvin tossed five innings in relief that included 11 strikeouts, a new single-game career high for the local Habersham Central product.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- 2024 1st Team All-Region Selection Zeke Swartz got the nod on the mound in the opener going five complete striking a half dozen along the way while allowing just two hits in the outing.  
- The two teams combined to only use seven pitchers over the 12-inning affair as both starters threw at least five innings. 
- Averett Thompson recorded the win tossing a scoreless 11th inning in relief inducing a ground out to short to help keep the game scoreless just before Piedmont's offensive explosion.

UP NEXT:
The continuation of the series on the West Coast with Piedmont playing Chapman in game two Saturday with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

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.