Piedmont College used a six-run eighth inning to defeat the Emory University baseball team Tuesday afternoon at Chappell Park in Atlanta.
Trailing 8-5 entering the inning, the Lions sent 11 batters to plate to claim the lead. Two costly errors by the Emory defense led to four unearned runs in the frame. The first six hitters reached base, culminating with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to force in the tying run. The Eagles appeared to get out of the inning with the score tied at 8-8 but an errant throw by pitcher Matthew Culbert led to three more unearned runs scoring for Piedmont.
The Eagles threatened in their half of the eighth inning, loading the bases and bringing the go ahead run to the plate. Michael Edelman reached on an infield single to score Jack Masonis with two outs. The Lions then brought on their closer, Carter Ballstadt, who retired Caleb Shulman for the final out in the inning. In the ninth, Ryan Adelman worked a two-out walk to once again bring up the tying run. However, Ballstadt struck out Masonis to end the ball game.
Adelman, Jacob Singer and Drew Bartholow each had two RBI to highlight the Emory offense with Robby Wacker collecting a game-best three hits. The Eagles used nine different pitchers in the contest with Kyle Sulkowski leading the way with 2.1 scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
Emory began the scoring with a six-run inning of its own in the second, sending all nine batters to the plate. Back-to-back hit-by-pitches by Adelman and Jake Kessinger opened the scoring at 2-0 before David Shore, Singer and Bartholow followed later in the inning with three straight run-producing base hits.
Piedmont quickly responded with a five spot in the third before the Eagles answered with solo runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. The teams traded zeroes until the Lions outburst in the eighth.
The Eagles (4-5) continue their season this Saturday, April 10th, with a road doubleheader at Sewanee beginning at 1:00 PM EST.