The Oglethorpe baseball team couldn't get out of the third inning against the visiting Piedmont Lions Tuesday night, and it wound up costing them the game, as they went on to lose, 9-4.

The Petrels gave up five runs in that third inning after getting the first two hitters out. Five straight Lions reached base during the stretch, which included a bases-clearing double and a two-run home run.

The Petrels scored a single run on a Cory Leff sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning. Then, after Piedmont got the run back in the fourth, Oglethorpe cut the lead to three runs again in the fifth. Jake Spear singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Leff double. However, Leff was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple, killing any further rally.

Piedmont was able to put the game away in the next inning, scoring three runs in the frame. The runs came directly off a passed ball, an infield single and a wild pitch.

Before the Piedmont five-run third, the Petrels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second. TJ Schmutz and Nick Manai led off the inning with singles, and Joey McAlpin moved them to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Frank Sarno came through with an RBI groundout to give the Petrels the lead.

Josh Morgan got the start for the Petrels and suffered the loss. He gave up five runs on three hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

Schmutz had a good evening at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Manai tallied a 2-for-4 night.

The loss drops the Petrels to 8-21 on the year. They will next be in action on Thursday evening, when they will take on Rust in a doubleheader. First pitch will be at 4 p.m.