NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 6, Brevard 5
Records: Piedmont, 10-5; Brevard, 4-12
DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont senior right hander
Braden Simms broke the program record for career saves in dramatic fashion, as a late double play helped Piedmont baseball stave off a Brevard ninth inning rally in a 6-5 win Tuesday evening.
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In a back-and-forth battle, Piedmont was able to come away victorious after falling in a heartbreaker in the series finale Sunday at Methodist.
Senior standout
Trace Cate got the scoring started, blasting a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
However, the Tornados quickly answered back, breaking through for four unearned runs against Piedmont starter
Adam Metivier. Although it was the only Piedmont error in the contest, it allowed Brevard to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead thanks to back-to-back two out, two RBI base hits from the middle of the order.
The Lions were undeterred, striking back, taking the lead for good with a three-run sixth inning. After Brevard issued back-to-back walks to lead off the inning, freshman
Logan Pedretti singled to load the bases. That set the stage for fellow freshman
Ben Bodoh, who single to bring home a run. Then, with the bases still loaded and nobody out, the Tornados traded the tying run for a double play. With just a runner on third and two outs, Pedretti was able to score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch before a groundout ended the frame.
The eighth inning saw Piedmont use three consecutive walks to bring home what turned out to be a key insurance run.
Taking a 6-4 lead into the ninth, Simms entered and immediately found traffic on the bases with three consecutive Brevard singles and nobody out.
He then received a lineout to second for out number one before the decisive play. With the bases still loaded and one out, The Tornados were able to loft a deep fly to center field for out number two, and while Brevard was able to tag and score from third base to make it 6-5, the trail runner was nabbed 8-6-4 trying to sneak into scoring position for the final out of the game.
Freshman
Layne Ayers earned his first career win, firing 3.0 innings of no hit relief with just one walk and three strikeouts.
TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont scored three times in the sixth inning to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead, which it never relinquished.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
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Braden Simms notched his sixth save of the season, setting a new Piedmont career mark.
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Layne Ayers earned his first career win, tossing 3.0 innings of no hit, scoreless relief.
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Trace Cate launched his team-leading third home run of the season, a two-run blast to open the scoring in the fourth.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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