NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 8, Pfeiffer 10
Records: Piedmont 7-5, 4-1 USA South; Pfeiffer 5-1, 1-1 USA South

Demorest, Ga. (Feb. 29, 2020) – The Piedmont College baseball team dropped a 10-8 game to Pfeiffer University on Saturday to even the USA South series at 1-1. The Falcons scored early and often with three multi-run innings, but the Lions made a ninth inning comeback that just fell short.

Piedmont's Jakob Valleroy pitched a pair of scoreless innings before the Falcons got on the board first with two runs in the third. The Falcons saw leadoff hitter Zach Ferrell hit a homerun with two outs, then Seth Grice singled and the Falcons manufactured another run. 

Grice stole second and then third but on the play to third, an error by the catcher allowed him to score.. Piedmont then answered back in the bottom of the frame with a run as Jonathen Burkett hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Wes Snyder.

Valleroy's day was done in the fourth as the Falcons managed another three runs to take a 5-1 lead.

The Falcons continued their offensive onslaught with a five-run fifth inning to take the 10-1 lead. Piedmont used a total of three pitchers in the contest.

Piedmont's late rally began with the Falcons walking in a run after a pair of singles followed by two walks that plated the fourth run of the game in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded, Whitmer hit a bases-clearing triple to make it 10-7.

The Lions would then add another run as Zach Swindell ripped an RBI single for his first hit of the season making it 10-8. 

Cam Reid came in to close the game for Pfeiffer, retiring the final two Lion batters to life the Falcons to the win.

Pfeiffer starting pitcher Nate Ray earned the win, going five innings, striking out five batters and allowing three earned runs.

The two teams will square off once more on Sunday in the series rubber match.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.