Five-Run Sixth Forges Lions Past Brevard

Five-Run Sixth Forges Lions Past Brevard

BREVARD, N.C. – Piedmont pieced together a five-run sixth inning, overcoming a three-run deficit in the process, to earn a 5-4 win over Brevard in baseball action on Saturday afternoon at Gil Coan Field.

With the Tornados leading 3-0, Piedmont (16-8) opened the sixth with a single to left field by Jabin Smith and added Justin Groover to the basepads, who reached on hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Andrew Burden drove a triple into left field, clearing the bases and slicing the margin to one run.

Noah Heatherly kept the inning alive for the Lions with a single up the middle, plating the game-tying run from third in the process. Tyler Burdette roped a single into centerfield, putting runners on the corners.

Fowler Brooks reached base on a controversial fielder's choice, scoring Heatherly for the 4-3 advantage. Evan Meade brought home Brooks from first base with a double to the right field wall, extending the Lions' lead to two runs.

Brevard pulled within one run in the eighth inning when Ryan Roon reached base on a two-out single through the right side of the infield, advancing Beau Shealy to second. Mikey Mejias dropped a single into shallow centerfield, scoring Shealy from second, before a double play ended the scoring threat for the Tornados.

Jadon Wooten (3-4, double, run) was the top hitter in the Brevard lineup, while teammates Ryan Roon (2-4, double, run) and Dayne Homesly (2-4) also enjoyed multi-hit performances.

Senior Drake Black (2-8) put together a solid outing on the mound, tossing a complete game, seven-hitter. Black surrendered five runs, all earned, one walk and converted 10 strikeouts along the way.

Piedmont had a well-balanced lineup with six players recording a hit, including Smith who finished 2-for-5 with one run and was the only Lion with multiple hits.

David Craft (4-0) picked up the win after scattering six hits and three runs (two earned runs) over seven innings. Craft did not allow a walk and tallied nine strikeouts. Buddy Green came on to close out the ninth inning, converting his third save as he allowed only one hit.

Brevard established its offense early with two runs in the first inning. Consecutive doubles by Shealy and Roon allowed Shealy to cross the plate for the first run of the game. Roon advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice bunt to third by Mikey Mejias.

Wooten's first hit of the game came in the second when he recorded a single to left on the first pitch of the at-bat. Two batters later, Homesly singled to third, advancing Wooten to second. A failed pickoff attempt allowed Wooten to score from third and Homesly move to second, but the inning cloed on a strikeout by Carsillo.