Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 6, Pacific 5
Records: Lions 2-0, Boxers 2-1
Location: Tucson, Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Piedmont College baseball team picked up a 6-5 win over Pacific University Friday to begin action at the Cactus Classic. Piedmont's BARRETT COURTWRIGHT picked up the win on the mound in relief in an impressive showing by the Piedmont pen. 

It was quiet through the early innings as neither team recorded a hit until TYLER SHELEY singled to begin the home half of the fourth inning. That was one of three back-to-back-to-back singles for the Lions as Sheley came across to score the first run on a BRADY BALLSTADT single. ZACHARY SWINDELL would score on a wild pitch to give the Lions a 2-0 lead heading to the fifth. 

In the top of the fifth, the Boxers would record their first hit off starter RYAN COX. Pacfic would jump ahead in the fifth 4-2 scoring four runs on five hits and leaving one stranded. BRYAN WHITACRE entered to record the final out of the inning and pitched one complete. 

The Lions cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the frame on a Sheley single that scored WES SNYDER. Piedmont tied it in the sixth on an EVAN MEADE single that drove in ANDREW BURDEN making it 4-4 heading to the seventh. 

Pacific again pulled away in the seventh to take the lead 5-4, but BARRETT COURTWRIGHT recorded the final out of the inning and became the pitcher of record when the Lions scored two runs on three hits and one error in the bottom of the seventh to lead 6-5. 

CARTER BALLSTADT and MATT VONDERSCHMIDT pitched the eighth and ninth innings respectively to close out the contest. Ballstadt worked a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth with a strikeout while Vonderschmidt surrendered a single but recorded three strikeouts in the ninth. 

Turning Point
--An error in the bottom of the seventh created an extra opportunity for the Lions and they were able to capitalize with a pair of runs in the frame including the game-winner on a TYLER BURDETTE single to score ANDREW BURDEN. 

Standout Performances
--The Piedmont bullpen allowed just one run over the final 4.1 innings of the contest allowing just three hits during that span. 

Inside the Box Score
--TYLER SHELEY went 3-for-5 to lead the Lions from the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. 

News & Notes
--This marks the first time the Lions and the Boxers have met on the diamond. 

Up Next
--Piedmont is set to take on California Lutheran Saturday at 8 p.m. central in Tucson as part of the Cactus Classic.