NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 11, Oglethorpe 2
Records: Piedmont 1-0, 0-0 USA South; Oglethorpe 0-1

DEMOREST, Ga. – In the long awaited return of Piedmont Baseball, it didn't take long for the runs to accumulate as the Lions coasted to an 11-2 win over Oglethorpe Friday. Piedmont opened with a six run first inning and continued to pour on the offense throughout the evening. 

SAM CARPENTER picked up where he left off with a dominant performance on the mound tossing 7.0 innings allowing just two hits, no earned runs and striking out 12. 

The Piedmont offense was at work quickly Friday as all nine batters went to the plate in the first with six runs across on five hits. JACK BARTLEWSKI got off to a hot start in his Piedmont career with an RBI single for the first run of the game driving in TYLER SHELEY. 

JAMES WHITMER was walked to load the bases again with no outs followed by KYLE DEJESUS driving in another making it 2-0. CARTER BALLSTADT sailed one to the warning track in right center to drive in a pair on a 2-RBI double giving Piedmont a 4-0 lead. 

The Lions would make it 5-0 as ETHAN DARROW grounded out to drive in DeJesus and advance Ballstadt to third. CONNER JELLEY singled to drive in Ballstadt and the Lions took a strong 6-0 lead into the second. 

Oglethorpe managed to get one back in the second inning with one run on one hit and an error, but that was all the Stormy Petrels could managed facing Carpenter. 

Piedmont would add three more in the third inning chasing the Stormy Petrels starter after just 2.0 IP. Ballstadt doubled again, this time a stand up double to left center making him 2-2 at the time with a pair of doubles. Jelley walked to send a run across and Sheley had a 2-RBI single to drive in the other pair making it 9-1 heading to the fourth. 

Carpenter continued dealing with a 1-2-3 inning in the 5th and 6th with strikeouts racking up. Piedmont's Darrow had a stand up triple to score a pair in the sixth inning making the Lion lead 11-1.

The Stormy Petrels were able to add on one last run as Piedmont brought in AIDAN COONEY for his first appearance as a Lion. Cooney tossed the eighth allowing one run on two hits while JUSTIN MANUS closed out the ninth pitching his first inning as a Lion going 1-2-3. 

TURNING POINT:
--The Lions had a strong start to the 2021 season with six runs in the opening frame to take a commanding lead and set the tone early.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--SAM CARPENTER continues to impress in his encore senior season coming one short of a career-high with 12 strikeouts in seven innings. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Piedmont had four extra base hits as Ballstadt had two doubles, ZACH SWINDELL added a double and Darrow recorded a triple. 

UP NEXT:
--The Lions are set to host Oglethorpe Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. after originally being scheduled to play a DH Saturday. Due to inclement weather in the forecast, those games have been pushed to Sunday. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.