NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Denison, 8; Piedmont, 7
Records: Piedmont, 33-15; Denison 44-1
GRANVILLE, Oh. — Despite a valiant effort in the bottom of the ninth, Piedmont baseball fell to the No. 1 ranked Denison in the Super Regional round of the DIII NCAA Tournament.
The Lions began the game with a hot start on offense with a two-run first inning, courtesy of Carter Few and Cruz Mullinix.
Just as the Lions had done all season long, they sent their pitcher to the mound with an early lead.
Layne Ayers took the mound for the Lions and held the Big Red at bay through the first two innings. In the third, Denison began to break through, scoring a pair of runs followed by a run in the third, allowing it to take the lead 3-2.
Ever the defiant lineup, Piedmont backed up its pitching staff with a run in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at three.
Ayers sought to navigate through the dangerous lineup once more, and after two outs in the fifth, appeared to be on track to do so. But after a pair of base hits that led to a two-RBI double for Denison, Ayers was relieved in favor of Harris Bryson. However, the rally for the Big Red would not be contained as the Lions' opposition scored two more runs to extend its lead to 7-3.
Piedmont did not relent in the bottom of the inning, bringing home a run to keep the coals of a rally stirring for the Lions.
In the sixth, Denison brought home another run, widening the deficit to four runs.
Facing elimination, Piedmont was shut out through the sixth, seventh, and eighth and down to its final three outs; the team uncorked a final showing of Milk Jug Magic.
The Lions led off the ninth with a pair of doubles from Cody Funk and Ben Connelly, with the latter scoring Funk and cutting the lead down to three. After a one-out walk drawn by Carter Few, Denison went to the bullpen. With two runners on and facing a fresh arm, Cruz Mullinix singled through the left side, scoring Connelly and keeping the Lions' rally alive. With Few on third, Jack Ryan grounded out, scoring the runner and moving the Lions ever closer. Now down by one, Denison recorded the final out of the game, securing the win and eliminating Piedmont.
The Lions' season concludes with the program's first-ever Super Regional appearance, in which it faced the No. 1 team in the nation. Piedmont, who was selected to finish fourth in the CCS, rode one of DIII's most potent offenses to a showdown with Denison and nearly staved off elimination.
Turning Point:
- A sixth-inning run for the Big Red that proved to be the game decider.
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.
