(DEMOREST, Ga.) – In the series finale, Piedmont baseball was unable to pull off the series victory falling 7-4 to Belhaven on Saturday. The Blazers were able to answer an early offensive attack from Piedmont and put away the Lions.
Piedmont was able to get on the board with two runs in the home half of the first posting two runs on three hits. The Lions put runners on the corners with no outs and Isaak Mullanack drove in the first run on a groundout to third. Cruz Mullinix singled home Trace Cate to put Piedmont up 2-0.
The lead was short-lived as starter Adam Metivier gave up a single and double to start the second inning, then an error on a fielder’s choice allowed the first run to score. A sac fly drove in another run and a third came across with an RBI groundout.
Belhaven put up three runs on two hits and an error and added another run in the fourth inning to lead 4-2. It was in the fifth that the Blazers put up another three-spot, forcing the Lions to go to the bullpen.
Freshman Tyner Simpson was impressive in relief throwing 4.2 innings with just one hit allowed to 15 batters.
Piedmont scored in the bottom of the fifth off a pair of hits to trail 7-3 but added just one hit in the following three innings. It was not until the bottom of the ninth that the Lions showed a spark of life.
Kolton Hicks doubled with one out and Makana Peters pinch hit with a single to put two aboard. Hicks was driven home on a Sean Bailey RBI single, but a double play ended the threat and Piedmont’s chances at a comeback.
Up next, the Lions host Birmingham-Southern at Loudermilk Field on Tuesday, April 2 at 5 p.m.
