Official Stats
Official Stats (PDF)
DEMOREST, Ga. -- In the opening game of a two-game series at Loudermilk Field, Millsaps built a five-run lead and had to survive four runs from Piedmont in the final two innings to come away with a 6-5 road win to remain perfect on the early season.

The game came down to the bottom of the ninth inning with the game-winning run on first base, as the Majors' Josh Ordeneaux made a tough throw across the diamond to sophomore teammate Will Hawkins at first base who was completely stretched out and barely kept a foot on the bag for the third out.

Four of the Majors' six runs were unearned due to five Piedmont errors, including three from shortstop John Duke.  Duke, however, made up for his fielding errors at the plate, going 4-for-4 on the afternoon with an RBI and run scored.

Piedmont looked to get on the scoreboard first in its opening at-bat, getting a leadoff triple from Corey Lindsey.  Two batters later with one out and Lindsey still holding at third, Andrew Migetz delivered a shot to rightfield that looked deep enough for a sac fly until Hunter Owen came up with a catch and a shot to home plate that doubled up Lindsey and ended the scoring threat.  An alert Tyler Berry behind the plate missed the initial tag but noticed that the runner had not touched the plate and laid down the inning-ending tag.

Millsaps (4-0) took a 1-0 lead in the third off a Russ Boyd RBI-groundout, scoring Ordeneaux after a single, wild pitch and an error.  The lead grew to 4-1 after a three-run fifth inning, using three hits and Piedmont's third error in three innings.

Down 6-1 in the eighth after Millsaps plated two more runs in the seventh, Piedmont scored three runs off four hits and an error and put the first four batters of the inning on base.  Justin Vorherr drove in the first run with a sharp single up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error. The Lions then took advantage of a pair of balk calls getting within two runs at 6-4.

After a scoreless ninth for the Majors that featured a web gem catch from Vorherr off what looked to be Hawkins' second home run of the year, the stage was set for an exciting finish.

Senior Drew Maddox, who entered to start the eighth, struck out the first batter of the inning before a Migetz triple to right-center and Zack Kunz RBI-single cut it to 6-5.  After Duke's fourth hit of the day put him at first with one down, Vorherr grounded into what looked to be a 6-4-3 game-ending double play until the umpire ruled Hawkins' foot came off the bag.  The game ended a batter later off Moon's groundout to third.

Hawkins was 3-for-5 on the day to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, while four other Majors recorded a hit.  Migetz had a mult-hit performance behind Duke's perfect day at the plate.

Freshman Ryan Zemke grabbed his first collegiate victory in 5 2/3 innings of five-hit, 1-run ball, while Maddox drew his first save of the year and eighth of his career.

The series closes tomorrow at 2 p.m. CST on www.atwsportscast.com and Millsaps will return home Wednesday to host Huntingdon College at 3 p.m.