Ninth-Inning Run Costs Emory in 3-2 Loss to Piedmont

The Emory University baseball team suffered a heart-breaking ninth inning loss to Piedmont College on Thursday night, losing 3-2 to the Lions.

Emory took an early lead in the contest, scoring a run in the first inning off an RBI groundout from Jonathan Reilly, scoring Ryan Jones, and another in the second off a double for J.B. Smith that scored Dan Molnar.

However, the Eagles would be held off the board for the rest of the game, recording just three more hits during the final seven frames.

Piedmont would score runs off Brian Cournoyer in the fourth and Will Gumm in the sixth to tie the contest.  After facing just three batters in the eighth inning, Emory closer Zeb Heidt came back out for the ninth, allowing the game-winning run on a walk, two hits and an error.  Heidt dropped to 1-2 on the season with the loss.

Piedmont starter Spencer Shelton pitched a complete-game five hitting, striking out 11 Emory batters, to earn the victory.  Emory dropped to 13-12 on the season with the loss, while Piedmont improved to 13-12 with the victory.

The Eagles and the Lions will return to action on Friday afternoon, as the two will face off at Chappell Park at 3:00 PM in the second game of a three-game series.