Box Score Atlanta, GA - The Piedmont College baseball team had a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth at Emory University, but could not keep the Eagles from rallying with a pair of runs in the frame to sink the Lions 4-3.  Piedmont took a 3-2 lead in the top of the final frame drawing a bases-loaded walk with two outs, but saw the Eagles capitalize in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff walk that started a two-run 9th for Emory in the 4-3 decision.

Piedmont got on the board first in the contest with a run in the 4th inning as Austin Brick's sac fly plated Evan Gresham for the early lead.  Brick was 1-for-3 in the game and tallied a pair of RBIs on the afternoon also driving in a Piedmont run in the top of the 6th when he singled to score Michael Barnes. 

Sandwiched between those Piedmont scores in the 4th and 6th was an Emory score in the 5th as a Lion error that led off the inning became costly later in the frame when the Eagles' singled with two outs to post the home team's first run of the afternoon.  EU would continue the your-move theme when they followed up the Piedmont score in the 6th with another run in the 7th as Piedmont scored in the 4th and 6th innings a lone run while the home team did the same in the 5th and 7th.

With little wiggle room for either team, Piedmont loaded the bases in the top of the 9th bringing up the big right fielder Gresham who proved an intimidating force at the plate, drawing a two-out walk with the bags full putting teammate Will Skidmore across.  That run in the top of the 9th looked to have handed Piedmont a road decision as the Lions now led 3-2 heading to the bottom of the inning with closer Jacob Brewster coming to the mound.

However, a leadoff walk from Brewster put Emory's Dylan Eisner at first with nobody out and the winning run coming to the plate.  After Brewster struck out the next Eagle, a pair of wild pitches allowed Eisner to move all the way to third with still only one out in the inning.  An Emory infield single put Eisner in from third tying the game but also putting a runner on with still one out and the Eagles still batting.

Another Eagle single put two runners on, but a key diving snag from third baseman Michael Barnes helped ease the pressure as he picked up the force at third to get the lead runner.  With Piedmont not out of the woods yet but now two outs showing, Emory's Wes Peacock stepped up to the plate to double in the right center gap to send the Eagles to the walk-off win 4-3 capping off the 9th inning comeback.

Getting the loss on the mound was Piedmont closer Jacob Brewster who came on in the 9th with a one-run lead but put the leadoff hitter on with a four-pitch walk, a move that proved costly as that ended up as the tying run for EU.  The win went to Emory's Mike Bitanga who threw just the final two innings allowing one run and no hits, walking a pair.

Piedmont starter Chris Goershel had another solid showing as he went six innings on the mound allowing just four hits and one unearned run walking three and striking out a trio. In two outings for PC this season, Goershel has a 0.82 ERA as opponents are managing just a .179 average against the junior right-hander.

Offensively, the Lions' Michael Barnes posted a 3-for-5 day with a run scored while Austin Brick and Evan Gresham accounted for the three RBIs.  Brick had a pair while Gresham picked up his on that ninth inning walk with bases loaded.

The Lions will now host Emory in a doubleheader at Loudermilk Field tomorrow afternoon to make up the series opener that was postponed Friday night.  The February 16th action against the Eagles will start at 1:00 pm with the second game to follow at 4:00 pm or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first contest.  Live coverage will be provided courtesy of the Mane Event Broadcasting Network.