NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 10, Emory 6
Records: Piedmont, 13-7; Emory 10-7

DEMOREST, Ga. — The Piedmont baseball team got back into the win column on Friday with a win against Emory.

The Lions exploded in the eighth to jump ahead of the Eagles and fended off a rally in the ninth to secure the win.

Andrew Misirly started for the Lions, and the sophomore looked strong out of the gate, retiring the top of the Emory order with help from a double play.

Emory started its ace, Josh Zuckerman, and the Eagle arm shut down the dangerous top three of the Lions' lineup.

The game entered a pitchers' duel as both Misirly and Zuckerman matched each other.

Piedmont entered the bottom of the fourth in a scoreless affair. Davin Miller led the inning off with a walk and promptly stole second while advancing to third on a wild pitch. Cruz Mullinix stepped to the plate with two outs and lined a single to bring home the game's first run. Jack Ryan followed, and on the first pitch, the Piedmont third baseman slugged a towering shot to deep left-center field for a two-run home run. With the Lions ahead by three, Misirly took the ball once again in the fifth.

Misirly fired two more innings of shutout ball before handing the ball over to the bullpen. 

In the eighth, the Eagles rallied against Averett Thompson, scoring two on a double to left-center field. Luke Manry came on in relief for Piedmont in a one-run game, but Emory still carried momentum. After allowing a single and picking up a strikeout, the Eagles struck for one more run, tying the game at three.

The Eagles turned to the bullpen for the first time in the game, entering the bottom of the inning. Davin Miller led off with a hit by a pitch, and the baserunners continued to stack from there. Control issues for the Eagles led to a bases-loaded walk for the Lions as they retook the lead, 4-3. Piedmont piled on as the next three batters reached, growing their lead against Emory. The Lions' final run of the inning came on a sacrifice fly from Miller as the Lions wrapped up the inning, scoring seven runs and giving themselves a 10-3 lead.

In the ninth, Piedmont turned to the bullpen once again, but the late-rallying Emory lineup loaded the bases and brought home two runs on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and an RBI single. Harris Bryson entered the ballgame with the bases loaded and one out. Bryson got his first batter to ground out, allowing another run to come across, cutting the Lions' lead to four runs. Bryson shut down the rally with a swinging strikeout, netting the Lions the first game of the weekend series.

Piedmont's offense continues hitting well against tough competition and finds ways to score in all parts of the lineup.

Next, the Lions continue the weekend set against Emory with game two on the road in Atlanta Saturday at 2 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont's big eighth inning that launched them ahead of the Eagles for good.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Andrew Misirly had another strong outing, keeping the Eagles off the board for six innings.
- Jack Ryan slugged his first homer of the year, giving the Lions their first lead of the day. 

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.