Demorest,GA- The Piedmont College baseball team wrapped up the second game of a three-game series with visiting North Carolina Wesleyan College this afternoon with the hot-hitting Lions scattering 15 hits throughout the ball game in a commanding win 13-5. Junior Breck Davidson exploded for a 2-for-3 day at the plate with both of his hits coming off doubles, increasing his total to a team-high seven while adding four RBI to his season total of 14.
For the second night in a row, the Lions would jump out first in the bottom half of the opening inning. Griffin Olson doubled, and Evan Gresham doubled to trade places with him to put the Lions on the board 1-0.
Responding immediately, the Battling Bishops picked up a run of their own in the top of the second. However, Piedmont would respond with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning as freshman Justin Groover would pick up his first RBI of the 2015 season scoring Austin Brick making the score 2-1 after two innings played.
The bottom of the third would put the game out of reach for the Battling Bishops as the Lions picked up five runs on five hits with five different players picking up an RBI. Micheal Barnes got the runs rolling on a double that scored Davidson.
The next four batters singled and each picking up a RBI in the process. After the end of the third the Lions sat comfortably ahead 7-1.
Starter Seth George picked up the no decision in his fifth start of the season throwing three innings giving up just three hits on one run and two strikeouts. However, the win would go to freshman reliever Drew Coker who threw three innings giving up three runs while fanning five batters.
Both teams stayed relatively quiet over the next two innings, but Davidson would begin his assault in the bottom of the fifth. With bases loaded and one out, the junior came within feet of his first homerun of the 2015 season launching a double off the wall that would score two more runs for the Lions. Daniel Lindsey later singled picking up an RBI and Barnes would pick up the final RBI of the fifth on a sacrifice fly. After five, the Lions sat ahead 11-1.
The Battling Bishops would again threaten a comeback picking up three runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 11-4. Davidson effectively ended the hopes of a comeback with his second double of the day in the bottom half of the inning, picking up two more RBI tying him with Barnes for a team-high 14 on the year.
The scoring for the Lions would be over with a 13-4 lead heading into the top of the seventh. Senior reliever Matt Sthephens would shut the door of a comeback picking up his first save of the season throwing three innings and only giving up one hit and one run while striking out three.
Seven of the Lions hits were doubles as the offensive explosion of extra-base hits propelled the home team to take a two game lead in the series. Furthering their first place spot among the USA South Athletic Conference in doubles and extra-base hits, the Lions currently have 39 doubles and 42 extra-base hits.
Five different Lions picked up two or more hits on the day behind Gresham who led the team going 3-for-6 with an RBI. Barnes currently leads the team in hits with 22 as he extended his hit-streak to 11 games this afternoon.
The Piedmont College baseball team improves to 10-4 on the year and 10-4 in the USA South Athletic Conference marking the best start in conference play for the Lions since entering the USA South in the fall of 2013. North Carolina Wesleyan College falls to 2-12 on the season and 2-9 in USA South conference play.
