CARY, NC – Christian Neal turned in about as dominant a performance on the mound as there comes this afternoon, leading the WPU Baseball Team to a 3-0, series opening win over Piedmont College.

After tossing a perfect 4.2 innings to start the game, Neal (2-6) went the distance and only allowed four hits, while striking out 17 of the 32 batters he faced. Neal shattered the program's previous single-game record of 10 strikeouts, which he achieved earlier this season in a complete game win at NC Wesleyan, and fell three short of the conference's all-time mark.

WPU took a 1-0 lead in the third, as Tyler Klinedinst was plunked and eventually came home on an errant throw from Piedmont's second baseman on a double play attempt. JT Howington came through with the big hit in the fifth, ripping a bases-loaded double over the centerfielder's head to plate Travis Arthur and Braxton Lamm.

Piedmont threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with one out, but Neal struck out the next two batters and escaped the jam without any damage done.

"I've been proud of the way our guys have been competing the last couple of weeks," said head coach Chris Duty. "We've been taking better approaches at the plate, we had some guys hitting today, and Neal was outstanding on the mound, throwing 22 of 32 first pitch strikes and striking out 17."

In addition to a stellar performance on the mound, Neal also helped his own cause at the plate with a 2-for-4 day. Howington finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, while Lamm also added a pair of hits and a run scored. Arthur, Jacob Ennis, Hunter Allen and Nick Cole each chipped in with one hit apiece.

Chris Goershel (3-3) was pinned with the loss for Piedmont, giving up three runs on eight hits and two strikeouts in six innings of work. Evan Gresham, Zach Langley, Michael Barnes and Casey Parham each collected one hit apiece for the Lions.

The Pacers return to the USA Baseball National Training Complex tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for game two against Piedmont. Live Stats will be available for the contest.

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