NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 3, Maryville 2
Record: Piedmont, 26-17

LaGRANGE, Ga. - The Piedmont University baseball team was crowned CCS Champions Monday following a 3-2 victory over Maryville in the title game. The Lions were led by KOLTON HICKS who earned CCS Tournament MVP honors after going 2-for-4 with a home run, his second of the tournament.

ZEKE SWARTZ battled for the Lions coming back on short rest for the start as he went seven innings allowing just two earned runs and four hits. Swartz was off to a dicey start with two walks to start the game but settled in to strike out a pair in the first and hold the Scots at bay.

Piedmont got a pair of hits in the second inning, but a double play eliminated the opportunity. A hit by pitch and two straight walks loaded the bases with no outs for the Scots in the third, and they were able to claim the lead 1-0.

It was limited to just one run though as OWEN HELGESEN dug out a ball thrown from KYLE CARLSON for the final out of the inning.

The Lions again hit into a double play to end the third, but were able to get momentum in the fourth. Hicks doubled to start the inning and advanced to third on the play after an error. He was driven in by CARTER BALLSTADT in the next at bat on a sac fly.

Piedmont added another to take the lead in the fourth on three straight singles from TYLER NELSON, TRACE CATE and CARSON STROVINSKAS.

Swartz continued to deal allowing just one hit in each the fourth and fifth innings before Piedmont added to its total in the home half of the fifth. It was Hicks yet again who got the job done with a home run in his second straight contest this postseason.

Swartz tossed a 1-2-3 sixth inning and allowed a pair of hits in the seventh including a solo shot for the Scots as well making it a one-run game.

Piedmont had two hits in the seventh but was unable to add any insurance runs. ADAM METIVIER entered to pitch the eighth inning giving up just one walk while CARTER BALLSTADT closed out his career on the mound with a 1-2-3 inning to earn a save for the second straight game.

Swartz moved to 6-1 this season with two wins coming in the CCS tournament while Ballstadt earned his fourth save of the year.

TURNING POINT:
--KOLTON HICKS' home run proved to be the game-winning run as he toppled his hometown team.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--ZEKE SWARTZ pitched seven innings to move to 2-0 in the CCS tournament allowing just two runs and struck out seven batters.
--KOLTON HICKS and TRACE CATE both went 2-for-4 for Piedmont in the championship.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Piedmont had nine hits in the contest and no errors defensively.