February 24, 2008

JACKSON – Andrew Migetz delivered a leadoff double to right center to leadoff the sixth inning for Piedmont and jumpstart a 6-run inning and the Lions held off six runs over the final four innings from Millsaps to win 9-6 on Sunday and complete a two-game sweep of the Majors at Twenty Field.

Piedmont (8-2) plated a single run in the fifth inning to break open a scoreless ballgame and then followed an inning later with six runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Lions put the first four runners of the sixth on base by way of a double, single,
hit-by-pitch and a two-RBI double from Justin Vorherr. Justin Oates then plated a run with an RBI-single followed by a Corey Lindsey double driving in a run. Evan Nissley then plated a pair with a single up the middle to cap the offensive surge.

Millsaps answered with four runs in the home half making the score 7-4, using an RBI-double from freshman Tony Malaschak to score Jason Riggins after a leadoff walk, a two-RBI double from senior Quinn Salmon and a two-out, RBI-single from senior Derrik Boland to cap the inning and cut the gap to three.

The Lions added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth as Cole Spedale scampered home on a wild pitch and Nissley scored on a two-out, RBI-single from
Travis Hunt, making the score 9-4 in favor of the visitors.

After reliever Jay Hollenbeck and the Majors held Piedmont scoreless in the ninth, the Majors put together one last rally in the bottom half to cut the Piedmont lead to 9-6.

Billy Murphy walked and Ronnie Wheat delivered a pinch-hit single to left to put the first two runners on base before a single from Malaschak with one out put ducks on the pond. Hunter Owen then pushed a run across the plate off a fielder’s choice RBI and Wheat scored on a wild pitch with two down prior to Nissley’s web gem to rob Millsaps’ Tyler Berry of a sure double that ended the game.

Tom Dimitroff recorded the final six outs of the game for Piedmont to finish out the work done by Vohlken, who pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs off two hits. Starting pitcher Travis Bogue was tagged with the loss for Millsaps after surrendering five runs off seven hits in 5.0 innings of work. He picked up six strikeouts against just two walks.

The schedule won’t get any easier for Millsaps, as they open an 8-game road stretch over four states on Tuesday with Division I Jacksonville State University. Live stats are available for the two-game here: http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/stats/baseball/live/xlive.htm.