Need to Know
Score: Piedmont 11, Berry 3
Records: Lions 1-0, Vikings 0-1
Location: Demorest, Georgia

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont College baseball team opened the 2019 season with a bang earning an 11-3 win over Berry College Tuesday at Loudermilk Field. DAVID CRAFT earned the win on the mound in relief, pitching a stellar four innings of work allowing just two hits to the 14 batters he faced. 

SAM CARPENTER got the start for the Lions and gave up one run on two hits through the first three innings, but finished his outing after a pair of singles to start the fifth. CARTER BALLSTADT was the other Lion to see action on the mound Tuesday as he made his first appearance as a Lion pitching the ninth in a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts. 

Berry led 1-0 in the second but EVAN MEADE tripled in the bottom of the inning to put Piedmont up 2-1 with his stand-up triple driving in TYLER BURDETTE and NOAH HEATHERLY. The scoring onslaught continued in the third inning with four runs on two hits as the Lions chased the Vikings' starter after just two innings. 

Berry scored a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to cut it to a 6-3 game, but again the Lions were able to answer with a big inning in the bottom of the fifth. BRADY BALLSTADT drilled one to centerfield, over the Vikings' CF's reach, and rounded third heading for home securing an inside the park homerun scoring ZACHARY SWINDELL making it 8-3. 

The Lions would add three more in the sixth inning including a TYLER BURDETTE RBI double. The Killer B's each had two hits each (Ballstadt, Burden, Burdette) as they accounted for six hits, six RBI's, and six runs scored in the 3-5 spot in the order. 

Turning Point
--In the third inning, the Lions scored four runs on two hits and one error to make it 6-1 and distance themselves from Berry. 

Standout Performances
--BRADY BALLSTADT flew around the bases for an inside the park 2-run homerun in the fifth inning as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. 

Inside the Box Score
--The Lions had just one hit more than the Vikings with eight to Berry's seven. 

News & Notes
--The Piedmont pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts with Craft accounting for five. 

Up Next
--The Lions head to Arizona where they will take part in the Cactus Classic beginning Friday against Pacific University.