Box Score A strong pitching effort and early lead for the third consecutive game against Piedmont College was not enough as the Lions rallied late to defeat the No. 17 Maryville College diamondmen 3-1 to sweep a regular season ending USA South series in Demorest, Georgia on Saturday.
The Scots' Andrew Henry singled and scored on a Johnny Carpenter RBI double in the first inning to give Maryville a 1-0 lead.
The pitching efforts of Ryan Stewart, Seth George, and Buddy Green held Maryville scoreless over the final eight innings.
The Lions rallied for the lead and eventual sweep in the bottom of the sixth.
Piedmont took advantage of a Maryville error finishing with three runs in the frame. After Justin Groover reached on an error and Brady Ballstadt singled, Andrew Burden singled to score Groover and tie the game. Ballstadt and Burden pulled off the double steal. With two-outs, Tyler Burdette dropped a two-RBI single in front of centerfielder Andrew Henry to plate the game-winning run.
Maryville's Ricky Ward went 5.1 innings allowing only one earned run while scattering only a pair of hits. Reliever Michael Hawks was charged with a pair of unearned runs after allowing three hits in the sixth inning Piedmont rally. Jacob Gossett finished the game with 2.1 innings of no-hit relief.
Piedmont's staff won the battle on the mound with Stewart going six inning allowing five hits and one earned run. The Lion's bullpen of George and Green combined for three innings of one hit relief.
The Scots' six hit offensive attack was paced by Hayden Hollingsworth's 2-for-4 afternoon.
Piedmont advanced to 22-10 with the win, 14-4 in USA South pay. Maryville falls to 26-8 and 10-8 in league challenges.
Seeding for the upcoming USA South tournament will be release on Sunday by the conference. Action will begin on Wednesday in LaGrange, Georgia.
