May 15, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

Piedmont Upends Top-Seeded Salisbury to Avoid Elimination

(DANVILLE, VA) - The Lions of Piedmont College dealt the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University their first loss of the NCAA South Regional Baseball Tournament, 10-6, in the second game during action on Thursday.  

Salisbury (39-3) scored first in the top of the opening inning and held a 5-4 advantage after the completion of three innings. PC (34-13) tied the score in the fifth inning after John Duke reached on a walk and then scored when Travis Hunt singled to left field.  

Piedmont took a commanding lead in the seventh inning, scoring five runs on two hits and three walks. SU managed one more run in the top of the eighth inning, but was unable to rally. 

Cole Spedale led the Lions offensive, going 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, including a successful steal of home in the seventh inning. For the Sea Gulls, Matt O’Keefe was 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Josh McEachin picked up the win for PC with two scoreless innings pitched, while Dustin Herbert drew the loss for SU with six runs over six innings.

Both teams have one loss in the tournament and will advance to games tomorrow, Friday, May 16. Piedmont will play Johns Hopkins at 3:00 p.m., while Salisbury will play the loser of the Christopher Newport/Lynchburg game at 11:00 a.m.