LaGRANGE, Ga. -- The Methodist baseball team fell to Piedmont, 3-2, and was eliminated from the USA South Tournament at Cleaveland Stadium on Friday evening.
 
With the loss, the Monarchs drop to 27-9 on the year and bow out of the tournament. Meanwhile, Piedmont advanced in the tournament and took on N.C. Wesleyan for a chance to play for the league championship.
 
In a close contest, the score remained scoreless until the fourth frame. The Lions placed a runner on first after he was hit by a pitch before advancing to third on a single to left. He eventually scored on an RBI single to right. The score held until the seventh inning as Smith led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly, 2-0.
 
Will May led off the bottom half of the inning with a double and found his way to third base following a throwing error by the Piedmont shortstop. Two batters later, Davis Cass dropped down a bunt, which the Lion defense picked up and tried to make a play at home that was unsuccessful to score May,, 2-1.
 
In the following inning, Elliot Manley drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matthias Carter. Ethan Carmack was able to move Manley to third before a two-out, RBI single by Alex Kachler tied the contest at 2-2.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Smith drew a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt. He moved to third on a single by Brady Ballstadt and scored on a single to right, 3-2. The Monarchs went down in order in the ninth to end the contest.
 
Sam Berman started on the hill for the Monarchs and tossed 3.2 innings. He surrendered just one run on five hits and struck out a batter. Logan Haines entered and pitched 3.0 innings, surrendering one run on three hits, while Will Walker (2-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up the game-winning run.
 
Matt Vonderschmidt recorded just one out but received the win after allowing one hit in 0.1 innings.
 
The Monarchs were held to five hits, while Kachler and Cass each had an RBI.
 
Methodist returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 17, with a doubleheader against Virginia Wesleyan beginning at 3 pm at Armstrong-Shelley Field.