ATLANTA, Ga. – After trailing following the first three innings, the Piedmont University baseball team used a mid-innings comeback to take a 5-3 victory at Emory Thursday.
Piedmont out-hit the Eagles nine to two while Emory committed four errors to Piedmont’s two.
Kaden Stephenson started the game in a big way with a leadoff double but the Lions then struck out three in a row. Emory was able to capitalize in the first after a walk and an error ended up leading to a run.
The Eagles were able to strike again in the third after three walks forced an early day for Bodie Eilertson and Tyner Simpson entered in relief. Emory led 3-0 after three innings.
The Lions’ first four hits were all doubles but it wasn’t until the fifth inning that they strung them together. The third and fourth hits came with two outs in the fifth inning as Stephenson doubled again driving in Cody Funk. Two errors in the inning made Piedmont’s three runs unearned, but Trace Cate doubled to bring in Stephenson and Isaak Mullanack to tie the game at three.
In the sixth, Piedmont took advantage of Emory errors again to bring in two runs and take the lead off three singles, 5-3.
Simpson worked 4.2 innings without allowing a hit and walked just one batter. He pitched three-up, three-down innings in the seventh and eighth before Justin Manus worked the eighth inning allowing just one hit.
Braden Simms entered to close out the contest pitching the ninth inning with a 1-2-3 inning to earn his third save.
Up next, Piedmont will host Emory on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the first of two home games against the Eagles.
TURNING POINT:
–Piedmont took the lead in the fifth inning after three runs off a pair of doubles by Kaden Stephenson and Trace Cate.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Kaden Stephenson posted a pair of hits, both doubles, and recorded his first career RBI.
—Tyner Simpson also earned his first victory entering in relief and pitching 4.2 innings without allowing a hit and struck out four.
