Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Atlanta, GA - The Piedmont College softball team had a rough day in Atlanta dropping two decisions to their in-state rival and nationally ranked Emory University.  After moving up to #7 in the latest NFCA poll earlier in the day and seeing a half dozen honored in the 2014 USA South All-Conference listing, PC picked up its first bit of bad news in the afternoon falling 7-0 to the Eagles in game one before dropping game two 2-1. 

In the first game, it was all Eagles as the home team handed Jordin Ellingson just her third loss in 22 decisions this season as the sophomore gave up a season-high 11 hits, the only time she has given up double digit hits in a single game this season and only the fourth time she has done so in her young career with PC.  Emory scored all seven of its runs with two outs in the inning as a double in the bottom of the first by the DH Fallahee with the bases loaded cleared the bags giving Emory a 3-0 lead before the 2nd inning. 

Piedmont then gave up two more runs in the third and single runs in the 5th and 6th to the hosting Eagles as Emory took game one by a 7-0 margin.  It was the first time that Piedmont has been shut out all season long.  The last time PC went seven innings without scoring a run was in last year's season-ending loss to then #1 Salisbury University in the NCAA Regional Final.

No Lady Lion had more than one hit in the opener as Abby Atkinson, Allison Vaughn, Laura Carter, Tori Mitchell, and Abby Smith all had one base knock a piece.  Senior Amanda Kardys pitched a gem for Emory in game one as she did not allow a single walk holding one of the south's most potent offenses to just five total hits fanning four on the day.

Game two was a different story for the two as the contest was scoreless through five innings as Piedmont looked to avoid a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Eagles, something that has only happened once to the Green and Gold in 2014.  In the top of the 6th, Piedmont would get its best chance to take a lead on the day as Vaughn led off the inning with a single down the left field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch just two batters later. 

A one-out walk to Tori Mitchell put two runners on with just one out for PC as a grounder to first would account for the inning's second out, but the runners moved up a base to put two in scoring position as the Lady Lions looked to force the DH split.  With the senior Lauren Head up to the plate, Emory pitcher Brittney File was able to induce a fly ball to right field that fell in the glove of a waiting Eagle and ended the chance for PC. 

In the home half of the inning, a bases loaded single through the left side broke a scoreless tie as Lady Lion pitcher Brittney Head gave up the first score of game two though the veteran tossed a solid six-inning effort. Head drops to 15-3 with the loss but allowed just four hits to the 16th ranked Eagles and issued just two walks on the day.

Adding a sac fly later in the inning to pick up their 8th score with two outs in an inning during the DH, Emory took a 2-0 lead after six looking to close it out with three outs in the top of the 7th.  Piedmont's Abby Smith gave her team a chance to force the decision when she homered for the second time on the season in the first at-bat of the 7th for the Lady Lions.

However, the next three batters were retired in order for the visitors as Piedmont fell 2-1 in game two to drop both games of the doubleheader to their in-state rival.  Emory moves to 35-6 overall, nearly identical to Piedmont's 35-5 overall record as the Eagles won 20 straight games to open the 2014 season and likely may be an opponent for PC in the postseason should both teams qualify for the NCAAs.

The Lady Lions now have just two days to recover and take the field to compete in USA South Championship play as they start the league's postseason tournament with a 9:00 am morning matchup on Friday, April 11th against 8th seed LaGrange College.  Piedmont is the tourney's top seed after going 23-1 in conference play this season.