DEMOREST, Ga. – In the 2024 season opener, the Piedmont University baseball team lost 5-2 to Chapman Friday evening. The Panthers recorded 11 hits to Piedmont’s four in the game while both teams committed one error.
Piedmont’s error came right out of the gate on the opening batter of the game, but it did not prove costly as Zeke Swartz was dealing early with six strikeouts through the first three innings. Swartz pitched four innings allowing two earned runs but struck out seven of the 18 batters he faced.
The Lions were first on the board in the bottom of the first after an error. Chapman evened the score in the third on a sac fly as the two traded runs for the first few innings.
Piedmont was quick to answer and regain the lead in the third on a monster hit by Kyle Carlson with a stand-up triple that was hit to center. Kolton Hicks scored on the play putting the Lions up 2-1, but following the third inning, Piedmont would manage just two hits the rest of the game.
Nathan Boyce entered in the fifth inning and made quick work of the Panthers going 1-2-3 but in the sixth, Chapman scored the go-ahead run on a pair of singles combined with wild pitches. Boyce would take the loss in the game going 2.2 innings allowing two earned runs on three hits.
Justin Manus closed out the game for the Lions on the mound over the final 2.1 innings allowing four hits and just one run.
Chapman combined for 14 strikeouts as the Panthers’ starter Max Banks earned the win with nine strikeouts in five innings of work.
Piedmont will face North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday at 4 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
–Chapman took the lead in the sixth inning and despite never scoring more than one in a frame, Piedmont was unable to keep pace.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Kyle Carlson hit a triple to center field driving in Kolton Hicks as Carlson was the only Lion with an RBI in Friday’s game.
B3 | 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐋𝐄!
Kyle Carlson sends one deep to center and puts the Lions back on top!
Piedmont 2, Chapman 1 pic.twitter.com/d15kX7sHpK
— Piedmont Lions Baseball (@PULionsBaseball) February 16, 2024
