NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Asbury 4, Piedmont 2
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 12, Asbury 1
Records: Piedmont, 16-9 (3-3 CCS); Asbury, 5-15 (1-8 CCS)
DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont baseball took on Asbury in doubleheader action on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Loudermilk Field, seeing a rally fall just short in a 4-2 game one loss before delivering another run-rule win with a complete performance in game two.
Game 1: Asbury 4, Piedmont 2
After scoring double digit runs in each of the past two games, Piedmont saw its offense stifled by an outstanding performance from Asbury starting pitcher Ryan Yates.
The Lions were able to jump out to a quick lead, thanks to a solo blast from
Jack Ryan in the bottom of the second, his second homer of the 2025 season.
The Eagles were able to answer back with a single run in the top of the third, and that's where the score remained, as both pitchers settled in.
Piedmont starter
Peyton Irvin departed after a solid 6.0 innings, just allowing four hits, one run, with three walks and six strikeouts.
However, the Eagles jumped on the Lions bullpen with a three-run top of the seventh that turned out to be the difference.
Piedmont rallied in the ninth, forcing the Eagles to use three pitchers. However, with the bases loaded and two outs,
Kyle Carlson's line drive that was ticketed for center field was snagged by Asbury pitcher Brady Robeson, ending Piedmont's chances to tie or win the game.
Game 2: Piedmont 12, Asbury 1 (F/7)
The Lions were dominant from start-to-finish in the series finale, ensuring the team's first CCS series win of the season with a relentless offensive attack and an outstanding outing on the mound from
Bodie Eilertson.
After the bats fell silent in game one, Piedmont's offense came to life early and often in game two, scoring in every inning but the first and scoring multiple runs in three innings to run away from the Eagles.
The freshman got the scoring started in a two-run second, as
Ben Bodoh and
Tucker Ausband collected RBI's to make it 2-1 Lions after the Eagles struck first in the top of the inning.
Although they would add on continuously, the two runs would have been enough for Eilertson, who fired 6.0 innings and allowed just six hits and one run to go with five strikeouts.
Leading 2-1 in the third,
Ben Connelly led off with a single before
Trace Cate sent a two-run blast over the left field wall for his team-leading fifth home run of the season to make it 4-1 Piedmont. Fellow seniors
Cole Ellis and Carlson added on with RBI's of their own to make it 6-1 going to the fourth.
Piedmont added single runs in the fourth and fifth inning, highlighted by Ellis's second RBI double of the game in the fifth to give the Lions an 8-1 advantage.
The final push from the Piedmont offense came in a four-run sixth inning, as Ellis delivered his third and fourth RBI's of the game on a two-run single to give the Lions the 10-run lead it would need to end the game early.
While Piedmont was able to tack on an extra run as a cushion,
Braden Simms did not need it, working a 1-2-3 top of the seventh with two strikeouts and a ground out to end the festivities.
Up next, the Lions will take to the road for a three-game set at Covenant, with the series slated to begin this Thursday, April 3 at 3 p.m.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Ellis was a perfect 3-for-3 with a team-high four RBI in the game two rout.
- Irvin and Eilertson were each solid on the mound, with both going 6.0 strong innings and allowing just one earned run.
- The top three in the Piedmont batting order of
Cody Funk (2-4), Connelly (2-4) and Cate (2-3) all added multi-hit efforts in game two.
BRADY & CARTER BALLSTADT HONORED PREGAME:
- Prior to the contest, former Piedmont standouts Brady and Carter Ballstadt had their number 26 officially retired in a pregame ceremony at Loudermilk Field.
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.
