The Oglethorpe baseball team earned a comprehensive victory over the visiting Piedmont Lions Wednesday night at a chilly Anderson Field, winning 13-4 to improve to 14-6 on the season and earn a sweep of the season series with the Lions.
Both teams struggled early offensively, with temperatures in the 40s and a breeze blowing in, but the Stormy Petrels struck first in the third inning. Back-to-back 1-out walks were followed by a 3-run homer to right field for senior center fielder Jarvis Miller, putting Oglethorpe ahead 3-0. Piedmont picked up a couple of runs in the fifth to pull it back to within a run, 3-2, but the Petrels responded in a big way in the bottom half of the inning.
A single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, and freshman shortstop Alex Featherstone was hit by a pitch, forcing a run across to extend the Petrel lead to 4-2. Oglethorpe scored a pair of runs on a Piedmont error a batter later, then senior third baseman Connor Crooke came through with a 2-run single through the left side of the infield to break the game open and give the Petrels an 8-2 lead.
Oglethorpe added three more in the sixth inning, as Miller collected his fourth RBI of the game with a run-scoring single. That was followed by an RBI single from senior designated hitter Adrian Celata, making it 10-2.
The Petrels added a couple more runs in the seventh, as well, pulling away from the visitors late in the contest.
On the mound, Oglethorpe used seven pitchers over the course of the game, and they combined to allow just four Piedmont hits. Sophomore right-hander Austin Manuel picked up his first win of the season, throwing two innings of hitless, scoreless ball in relief while walking one and striking out two.
Miller finished the game 3-for-4 with the home run, a walk, four RBIs and four runs scored. Senior right fielder Patrick Burnette went 3-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.
"Piedmont's a good team, and they'd been playing good ball as well, but I thought our guys really came out ready to play tonight," said Oglethorpe head coach Dan Giordano. "I thought our guys had a good plan at the plate tonight, and Jarvis Miller got the big home run to get us going offensively. Each of our pitchers came in today and threw strikes, as well, which is always good to see."
The Petrels will now get set to travel to Memphis, Tennessee, where they'll take on Rhodes in a 3-game set. The Lynx are currently tied with the Petrels for second place in the SAA at 4-2. Saturday will feature a doubleheader, which will get going at 1 p.m. Eastern. On Sunday, the two teams will play a single game, also set to get started at 1 p.m.