The Panthers swept Piedmont (18-16, 4-5 GSAC) for the first time since the 2004 season. The Panthers will be the number one seed in next weekend's GSAC Championship Tournament, hosted by the Lions. The Panthers won GSAC tournament titles at Piedmont in 2003 and 2006.

Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel between the Panthers' Doug Scherer and the Lions' Dusty Black. It came a day after the two teams combined for 33 runs and 36 hits in the Panthers' 22-11 win.

Scherer (1-2), a freshman, pitched into the eighth inning to get his first collegiate win. He allowed two runs; only one was earned, in seven innings. Scherer gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four.

Black (5-3) allowed three unearned runs in seven innings. He surrendered seven hits, five coming in the first two innings. Black walked three and struck out three.

The Panthers loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning. Derek Hooper and Eric Heath started the inning with back-to-back singles and Robbie Shelton walked to load the bases.

Black got David Miller to line into a double play as Heath was doubled up at second. He got out of the inning as Craig Mobley grounded into a force play to end the inning.

In the second inning, Brent Kinsey led off with a double down the left field line and Dale Feldman reached on an error. Black retired the next two batters before walking Hooper to load the bases.

Heath followed with a base hit to left to drive in Kinsey with the game's first run. Shelton followed with a line drive single to center to drive in Feldman and Hooper to make it 3-0.

Piedmont got an unearned run in the third inning to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-1. Curtis Cornett's two-out single scored Scott Haddock from third. Haddock had reached on an infield hit, moving over to third on a ground out and an error.

The Lions chased Scherer in the seventh inning, as Corey Lindsey opened the inning with a double down the right field line and Kyle Davis followed with a single to right.

James Connell relieved Scherer and Cornett reached on a fielder's choice as Lindsey scored to make it 3-2. Steven McConnell followed with a single to put runners on the corners with one out.

Connell got John Duke to pop up to Kinsey at second for the second out. After McConnell took second, Daniel Rivera walked to load the bases. But Connell ended the inning by striking out Jason Vermilya.

In the ninth, Connell set the Lions down in order to close out the win. It was Connell's team-leading fourth save of the year.

The Panthers close out the regular season Tuesday as they host Oglethorpe at 6 p.m. It will be Senior Night for Heath, Feldman and Amauri Smith.