NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 9, #22 Chapman 3
Records: Piedmont, 2-0; #22 Chapman, 0-2

ORANGE, Calif. - The Piedmont University baseball team is thriving in its season-opening trip out West against #22 Chapman, especially late, as the Lions snagged a 9-3 victory in game two of their showdown with the top 25 foe clinching the series with still a game to go.

Piedmont took the first lead of the game when Ben Connelly doubled to left to lead off the Lions' 3rd inning, later scoring on a ground out to second by Jack Gilsenan who went 2-for-5 in the extra-inning win for Piedmont that started off the series with the Panthers on Friday evening. 

Chapman evened the game back up in the bottom of the 4th when Joey Capobianco notched a RBI single back up the middle to plate Josh Phillips. 

The home team took their first lead of the day a few innings later off of Brad Lang's RBI double down the left field line that brought home Phillips once again for a 2-1 advantage this time around.  Chapman added a run later in the inning to provide some cushion taking a 3-1 lead into the 7th.  

Starter Bodie Eilertson went five and two thirds in his 2025 debut posting seven strikeouts without walking a single batter for his best such ratio since post nine punch outs without a walk in an outing vs. Wooster back on March 20, 2024. 

Seemingly unfazed by the home team shooting in front, Piedmont responded in their next chance at the plate by putting pressure on the Chapman pitching staff getting runners aboard with less than one out.  A pair of Lions would go on to score on wild pitches in the inning to even it back up at three each this time around through seven and a half. 

A quiet 8th set the stage for the dramatic ending once again less than 24 hours after these two squads played an extra-inning affair the night before.  It wouldn't be quiet in the 9th though as the Lions roared out to a lead with power at the plate started off by a Carter Few single and a walk drawn by Ben Connelly.

With runners on, a hit by pitch loaded the bases full of Lions for Cole Ellis strolling up to the plate with no one out in the inning.

The senior from Woodstock responded as would be expected from a veteran in a big moment on the road driving in two runners with a clutch base hit giving Piedmont back the lead by a pair.  

Piedmont's next batter, Trace Cate, also singled to add to the advantage, but the Lions were not done as the hero from last night was waiting in the dugout for his turn at the dish.   

A double play turned by Chapman looked like it might end the run and keep the home team within striking distance of the lead, but last night's big man at the plate had something to say about it as Piedmont's Sean Bailey came up with two outs but two runners on, both in scoring position. 

Bailey ensured it would not have mattered what base those two runners were on though as he once again caught his pitch and delivered his second home run in as many games to start the 2025 season for Piedmont.  After Bailey's bomb, Piedmont found itself up 9-3 headed to the home half of the 9th needing just three outs to take the series against the top 25 foe with still a game to play between the two.  

Piedmont's pitching silenced Chapman's bats in the 9th as the Lions claimed the victory with little rally in the final inning for a 9-3 victory claiming the series out West.  

Up next, Piedmont will take on Chapman in game three on Sunday at noon. 

TURNING POINT:
- The 9th inning as late-inning heroics would once again come into play as Piedmont broke a 3-3 tie with a half dozen runs highlighted by Sean Bailey's three-run homer that is still in flight somewhere toward the Pacific Ocean. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Sean "Long-Bomb" Bailey as he's now known out West homering for the second straight night for Head Coach Justin Scali's squad en route to the victory. 
- Ellis drew a walk and was 1-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI's including two on his 9th inning go-ahead base hit.  
- Piedmont's bullpen, as Jackson Randolph and Harris Bryson combined for more than three innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts to one walk and one hit total.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Eilertson's no-walk outing is the 8th time the veteran from Grayson High School has done so in his career with four of those showings seeing the lefty post seven or more strikeouts as well. 
- Piedmont's relief pitching is full of dudes so far in the series as the bullpen accounts for nine and a third with six total hits allowed and only two walks issued compared to 15 K's. 

UP NEXT:
The finale in what is likely one of the best opening series in the country at the moment with Piedmont readying a noon first pitch against Chapman on Sunday in game three of the series before flying home to the Peach State.  

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.