DEMOREST, Ga. -- Tim Nunez's two-out single in the bottom of the tenth inning produced the game-winning run for the No. 5-ranked Piedmont Lions as they defeated Covenant 3-2 in 10 innings on Thursday night in GSAC baseball action.
Covenant (9-9, 1-3 GSAC) got a strong outing from starting pitcher Tyler Smith against one of the top teams in all of Division III baseball. Smith went seven innings allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two, but he did not factor into the decision.
The Scots offense gave Smith two early runs to work with. Back-to-back doubles by David Lockwood and James Rollins with one out in the first inning gave Covenant a 1-0 lead. In the following inning, Kurt Wiles started a two-out rally when he was hit with a pitch from Piedmont starter Kevin Caldwell. Wiles then stole second and scored on a Jonathan Carter single that made it 2-0.
Piedmont finally got to Smith and Covenant in its half of the sixth inning. With two outs and nobody on, Smith walked James Moyer and Nunez followed with a single placing runners at first and third. Ethan Miers brought both runners home with a double to left field to tie the game at 2-2.
The Lions looked poised to take the lead in the eighth inning as Curtis Cornette greeted new Covenant pitcher Demarius Johnson with a double to leadoff the frame. But Johnson responded by striking out the next three Piedmont batters, all swinging, to thwart the Piedmont rally.
Neither team had an opportunity to score again until Piedmont in the bottom of the tenth. Cornett reached on a Covenant error, but was putout at third on Garrett Lovelace's fielder's choice. Brad Stinson pinch ran for Lovelace and moved to second on a ground out before being driven home by Nunez.
Lions starter Caldwell went eight innings and gave up one earned run on six base hits. Ed Cook (2-0) gets the win as he threw two innings of one-hit ball for Piedmont (17-5, 1-0 GSAC). Brian Simons (0-2) takes the loss for Covenant.
Lockwood and Scott Gillespie each went 2-for-4 on the night for the Scots. Nunez was 3-for-5 with a run batted in and a run scored for Piedmont.
The two teams will play game two of the three-game series on Friday night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
