NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 2, #6 Belhaven 1 
Records: Piedmont, 15-8, 3-1; #6 Belhaven 15-8, 3-1

DEMOREST, Ga. — The Piedmont baseball team took a nail-biter from the Blazers in a Thursday night conference matchup.

Andrew Misirly started for the Lions, and the Piedmont ace came through in a big way. Misirly led the Lions in the CCS bout allowing just four baserunners through the first four innings of play. 

On the offensive side, the Lions were held at bay by Belhaven starter Gunner Staten.

With both sides engaged in an efficient pitcher's duel, runs were scarce.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ben Connelly brought the first run of the game with a moonshot to deep right field, giving the Lions and Misirly a one-run lead.

The Blazers sought to answer back, and with the first batter of the fifth inning, struck for a solo home run of their own. With the game knotted up at one, Misirly climbed the hill and got back to work, and after a walk, coaxed three straight groundouts to close the inning, allowing just the one run.

The Piedmont bats threatened with baserunners all evening but struggled to bring runners home.

In the bottom of the sixth, Ben Connelly reached on a one-out walk. Ben Bodoh on the next pitch rolled a ball to the third baseman, and the Belhaven fielder sent his throw into right field, allowing Connelly to move from first to third and put the go-ahead run 90 feet away for the Lions. Belhaven turned to the bullpen, but the Lions' momentum stayed strong as Justin Shaffer put a ball in play, allowing the run to come home and giving the Lions a 2-1 lead. 

Misirly turned in another shutdown inning in the seventh and entered the eighth still rolling, but a long at-bat that turned into a single forced a change on the mound as Averrett Thompson came on in relief. Thompson got out of the inning courtesy of a flyout and a 6-4-3 double play.

Misirly ended the evening with seven innings pitched, allowing just the one run while collecting three strikeouts.

With a slim lead in the ninth, Piedmont turned to its closer, Luke Manry, to make the save. Despite traffic, Manry came through, giving the Lions a big win in the first game of the series.

While the offense has been the calling card for the Lions this season, the pitching came through in this affair as the Lions showed their strengths throughout the roster.

The series continues tomorrow in Demorest with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont's opportunistic baserunning that netted them the go-ahead run late in the contest. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Misirly turned in another great performance for the Lions, spearheading the staff for the evening.
- Piedmont's pitching staff shut down the Blazers across nine innings, allowing just one run, picking up four strikeouts, and surrendering just six hits.
- Connelly homered for his second of the season, the moonshot giving the Lions the early lead. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.