Montgomery, AL -- In the first elimination game of the 2009 GSAC Tournament the Piedmont College baseball team fell in walk-off fashion to #4 seeded LaGrange College this afternoon in Montgomery, AL. The Lions rallied with three consecutive two-out hits in the top of the ninth to tie the score but gave up a two-run blast in the home half to be eliminated from the tournament.
LC exploded with four runs on as many hits in the bottom of the second to take the early advantage. The Lions chipped away with single runs in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth to trail 5-4 entering the final at-bat. With two outs and no one on
Brandon Hitch and pinch hitter
Spenser Ventrice ripped back to back singles. Junior
Blake Albertson came off the bench with a clutch RBI-single to tie the score and send the game into the bottom of the ninth tied 5-5.
In the home half the Panthers struck with a single to lead the inning off and a homerun to rightfield to seal the Lions fate. The game marked the fourth consecutive game decided in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the first game of the tournament to be decided by more than one run.
Four Lions posted multiple hits led by Hitch who went 2-5 with an RBI. Piedmont outhit the Panthers 13-9 but committed four errors that led to three unearned runs.
Piedmont, now 19-20 overall, will return home to take on Methodist University on Monday, May 4th with game time still to be determined.