By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
DEMOREST, Ga. – No. 9/9 LaGrange (23-9, 10-2 CCS) rallied in the eighth inning to pull out a 5-4 victory at Piedmont (18-13, 5-6 CCS) in an NCAA Division III baseball game on Sunday, April 16.
The first two innings would see the clubs manage just a combined two hits, one apiece, before the Lions scored three on two hits and a pair of errors in the bottom of the third. That outburst would be fueled by an RBI double from Carter Ballstadt, who would then score on an error, and a Mac Barton single. The Panthers would then respond in the top of the fourth as junior catcher David Smigelski (Canton, Ga.) laced a two-RBI double to make it 3-2.
LaGrange would then tie it up in the fifth as sophomore outfielder Jorge Fragoso (East Point, Ga.) added his own RBI double with two outs. It wouldn't stay that way long, however, as Ballstadt singled to lead off the home half, stole second with two outs and scored the go-ahead run on another Barton single.
It would then stay that way until the eighth when LaGrange came through in the clutch. Fragoso stroked a one-out double and senior third baseman Joe Ruth (Chiefland, Fla.) drove him home with an RBI single, knotting things up at 4-4. A single by freshman outfielder Curt Bonner (Cartersville, Ga.), followed by a wild pitch, then put runners on second and third. Presented with an opportunity to take the lead without benefit of a hit, that would be exactly what Smigelski would do as he lofted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Ruth for a 5-4 lead.
Barton led the way for PU, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Ballstadt finished 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs. Kolton Hicks added a double and run with Isaak Mullanack going 2-for-4. Adam Metivier went seven innings on the hill, allowing just a pair of earned runs and five hits but would get a no decision as Braden Simms came in and gave up two key runs in the eighth to take the loss and fall to 0-3.
Smigelski delivered three RBIs and a double to pace the Panthers while Ruth was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Fragoso went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, RBI and two runs and junior second baseman Adam Dorn (Canton, Ga.) notched a 2-for-3 day with a run.
Senior pitcher Baley Coleman (Hiram, Ga.) produced an impressive day, going eight innings with one earned run and four strikeouts to pick up the win and move to 3-2. Freshman Eli Folds (Cullman, Ala.) followed up that performance with a hitless inning and two strikeouts to lock it down and collect his second save of the season.
UP NEXT
In one of their last opportunities to build their resume in non-conference play, LaGrange heads to Oxford, Alabama to take on No. 1 Birmingham-Southern for the third time this season. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18.
