DEMOREST, Ga. – In the second contest of the Belhaven series, Piedmont was unable to get much going offensively in a 4-1 loss to the Blazers.
Belhaven got to starter Bodie Eilertson quickly stringing together two hits for a run in the top of the first, before adding another in the second. In the second inning, it was a home run to left for Hunter Harrell that started the frame for the Blazers.
Eilertson settled in to pitch seven innings for Piedmont with nine hits allowed and five strikeouts. The Blazers added another pair of runs in the fourth inning off three hits including a 2-RBI double.
Piedmont was silenced for much of the game offensively by reigning D3baseball.com Pitcher of the Year from 2023 Brett Sanchez. Sanchez, a D3baseball.com Preseason First Team All-American, pitched a complete game for Belhaven, throwing over 120 pitches allowing just four hits and striking out 14.
Peyton Irvin entered to start the eighth inning working the final two against the minimum with two strikeouts.
Isaak Mullanack put up the first hit for the Lions in the fourth inning but was stranded. Kolton Hicks hit a leadoff single to start the bottom of the eighth, but that was all the Lions could muster then.
It was in the bottom of the ninth that Piedmont was able to get to work against Sanchez as he topped 100 pitches thrown. Isaak Mullanack hit a solo shot to left field and after a hit by pitch, Trace Cate doubled to put two in scoring position and bring the tying run to the plate.
Not to be denied. 🫡
Isaak Mullanack sends one out in left and the Lions are on the board!
Piedmont 1, Belhaven 4 pic.twitter.com/g80B1bTfNq
— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) March 29, 2024
Sanchez was able to end the game with a strikeout, his 14th of the day.
Up next, the series finale is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Loudermilk Field.
TURNING POINT:
–The Blazers were able to score in both the first and second innings of the game and that proved to be enough on Friday.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Isaak Mullanack recorded the first hit of the game for Piedmont and scored the only run with a solo home run.
—Peyton Irvin faced six batters in the final two innings of relief work.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
–Belhaven out-hit Piedmont 9-4 in the contest.
–There were no walks in the game.
