NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont, 3; Asbury 2
Records: Piedmont, 27-13 (CCS 12-6); Asbury 14-27 (CCS 7-11)
PEARL, Miss.—On the day he was named the Collegiate Conference of the South Pitcher of the Year, Andrew Misirly fired 8.0 dominant innings and struck out 11 batters as Piedmont baseball opened the conference tournament with a 3-2 win over Asbury.
After getting pushed back a day due to weather, the Lions got the job done in the opening round of the tournament behind a dominant showing bythe pitching staff.
It was signaled early on that the contest would be a pitchers' duel as Misirly set down the side in order in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Piedmont loaded the bases but couldn't strike a big blow early on, stranding three runners.
Zeros were traded in the second inning, giving a scoreless board to Asbury in the fifth, where it struck first in the contest. The Eagles made the most of a leadoff single and manufactured a run from another single and a bunt before the run eventually scored on a groundout.
Down by just a run, the CCS' leading offense took the field in the bottom of the inning and got things started with a leadoff walk from Ben Connelly. After Connelly stole second, Carter Few added more pressure with a single of his own. On the play, the Asbury leftfielder committed a throwing error that allowed both runners to advance into scoring position, putting the bat into the hands of Cruz Mullinix. The senior, without delay, roped a ball into right field, scoring both runners and giving Piedmont the lead.
Now working with a lead, Misirly went back to work and was masterful, shutting out the Eagles over the next four innings. while the lineup added an insurance run in the fifth off of another Asbury error.
In the eighth, the Eagles got off to a strong start with a leadoff single. The runner advanced to third and later scored on a single, making it a one-run game. With two away and with the tying run, Asbury still threatened but ran itself out of the inning after Ben Bodoh threw out the runner trying to steal second.
A weather delay stopped the game for 30 minutes before play resumed in the bottom of the eighth, where the Lions, despite traffic, were unable to add on to their lead.
Luke Manry relieved Misirly in the ninth, and the Lions closer collected two quick outs before the Eagles sparked life with a single. Manry looked to work around the runner before another baserunning error by the Eagles allowed a snap throw down to first by Bodoh, sealing a Lions win.
The offense got the job done in the contest, but the story of the day was Misirly, who went eight innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks.
Up next, the Lions will take on Huntingdon with first pitch scheduled for tomorrow, May 1 at 10 a.m. (EDT). Stay tuned for potential weather related schedule changes.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Misirly struck out a season high 11 in the contest, continuing his dominance into the playoffs.
- Mullinix stays hot with his two-out, two-RBI single being the bulk of the offense in the game for the Lions.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Misirly struck out a season high 11 in the contest, continuing his dominance into the playoffs.
- Mullinix stays hot with his two out two RBI single being the bulk of the offense in the game for the Lions.
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.
