Emory University's seven-game winning streak came to a close on Sunday afternoon, as the Eagles fell to sixth-ranked Piedmont College by a 4-3 score in the opening game of a doubleheader in Demorest, GA.

Piedmont jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Emory in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from Curtis Cornett.  However, the Eagles responded in the top of the second, as senior Jay Page drove in Daniel Iturrey with an RBI double, the first baseman's sixth RBI in the last two games, evening the score at 1-1.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Lions scored three runs off Emory starter Paul Schwendel, including two on a two-RBI triple from Ethan Miers. 

Emory chipped away at the lead, scoring a run in the top of the fifth on an RBI groundout from Ben Hambleton, making it a 4-2 score.  With two outs in the eighth, a Brandon Hannon single, followed by an error, but runners on first and third for Iturrey, who singled to drive in a run and make it a 4-3 score.  However, Emory would leave the potential game-tying run on third to end the inning, and go down in order in the ninth to end the game.

Schwendel pitched his first career complete game in the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and walking three batters, while striking out seven.  He fell to 3-3 on the year with the defeat.  Caleb Cochran earned the win for Piedmont to improve to 6-2 on the year, while Ed Cook pitched the final two innings to earn his eighth save of the season.

The Eagles outhit Piedmont 8-5 in the game, including a pair of hits each for Jared Welch and Iturrey.

Emory dropped to 18-8 on the season with the loss, while Piedmont raised its record to 20-8.  The two teams will play the second game of the doubleheader later in the day on Sunday.