Montgomery, AL– The Piedmont College baseball team picked up an essential game one win against fellow USA South Athletic Conference member Huntingdon College tonight.
The Lions would pick up the key road win 6-3 collecting 12 hits on the night. Keith Grabowski proved to be the late-inning hero along with a stellar pitching effort to seal the victory.
The opening game of the series needed no extra hype as both teams entered the game tied for first with an 11-4 record in the conference. However, the Lions’ bullpen came up clutch pitching 2.2 innings and giving up just one hit and no runs.
The Hawks would get on the board first in the bottom of the third picking up a single run. However, the Lions would respond with their own offensive assault in the top half of the fourth as Breck Davidson picked up his first long-ball of the year. The fourth home-run of his career, the junior gave the Lions a 2-1 lead with the effort.
Michael Barnes extended his hit-streak to 13 games running picking up a single in the fourth and later scoring on a passed ball to give the Lions a 3-1 lead heading into the home-half of the fourth. Barnes also leads the team in hits with 26.
Huntingdon would respond in the bottom of the fifth on a Will Pharis two-run homer to knot the score at 3 after five.
Piedmont starting pitcher Chris Goershel would pick up the no decision tonight giving way to Allen Tokarz in the bottom of the sixth. Goershel allowed eight hits, but only three runs while striking out two to keep the Lions in contention for the win.
Heading into the top of the eighth, both teams were still tied at 3-3. Austin Brick and Casey Parham would walk to set the stage for Grabowski. The senior center fielder picked up his fifth and sixth RBI of the season as he laced a double to put the Lions up 5-3. It marked the fifth double of the season for Grabowski and the 45th for the team as a whole.
Tokarz earned the win on the mound moving to 2-2 on the season as he pitched 2.2 innings allowing only one hit and no runs while striking out one batter. Tokarz improved to a 2.70 ERA which makes him third best in the conference.
However, Josh Thomas would steal the show as he picked up his third save of the season. Thomas threw the final inning tonight with no hits, no runs, and one strikeout to further pad his resume boasting a flawless 0.00 ERA with 16 innings pitched under his belt.
Thomas leads the conference with his ERA, but also is tied for second with three wins and second in saves with three. The bullpen for the Lions only allowed three base runners and stranded them all not allowing a run to score.
Following in Grabowski’s footsteps were multiple Lions who had two or more hits on the day. Gresham went 2-for-2 with three walks and a run scored while Davidson went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI on a triple shy of the cycle.
Davidson leads the Lions in doubles with nine and in RBI with 18. Brick added to his hits totals going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Piedmont improves to 12-4 on the season and 12-4 in the USA South which makes them in sole possession of first place in the conference. The Hawks fall to 11-6 on the season and 11-5 in the conference. The winner of the series will be in possession of first place heading into the back stretch of the season.
Game two between the Lions and the Hawks is set for 4:00 p.m. ET and 3:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 15. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with PiedmontLions.com for all schedule updates and changes.
