Need to Know
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 3, Maryville 4
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 9, Maryville 2
Overall Record: PC 26-14, MC 19-17
Conf. Record: Lady Lions 16-6, Scots 9-11
Location: Demorest, GA - Walker Athletic Complex

Demorest ,GA - In the USA South First Round, the Piedmont College softball team fought back to force a deciding game three to be played on Sunday as the two split Saturday's doubleheader in the best of three series. It was the top of the seventh inning that proved to be the difference in both contests as the Scots scored two in the first game while PC added eight in the second game in that frame. 

Piedmont held the lead early in game one after a sacrifice fly by HANNAH HOBAN in the first inning scored HALEY HIXON, but the Scots tied it in the third. PC quickly answered back with a run in the bottom of the third to regain the lead but the two were knotted up at two heading to the seventh inning. 

Maryville used three singles in the top of the seventh coupled with a sac bunt to drive in the game-winning runs up 4-2, but the Lady Lions did not give up. Piedmont plated a run, but on the play a runner was caught at third for the final out of the game leading to the 4-3 loss. 

Game two was all Scots until the sixth inning as they led 2-0 until Piedmont scored one run in the sixth inning to cut the lead in half 2-1. It was in the seventh inning that the flood gates opened for Piedmont with eight runs on seven hits and a pair of errors. 

HALEY HIXON doubled to left center to drive in the game winning runs putting Piedmont ahead 3-2 and the Lady Lions continued the onslaught as momentum was on the side of PC. MELISSA ECKMAN earned the win giving up just a pair of runs pitching the complete game and moving to 14-5 this season. 

Turning Point
--Maryville scored twice in the top of the seventh to take the lead 4-2, and the Lady Lions could not claw back in the bottom of the frame. 
--Piedmont had an 8-run top of the seventh in game two to rally for the victory and force game three. 

Standout Performances
--HALEY HIXON drove in the game-winning runs in the top of the seventh in game two going 4-for-8 with two RBI and three runs scored in the doubleheader. 
--MELISSA ECKMAN tossed the complete game in game two earning her 14th victory of the season moving to 14-5 allowing two runs on eight hits just days after being named USA South Pitcher of the Year. 

Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont entered the seventh inning trailing 2-1 in game two with only three hits in the contest and scored eight runs on seven hits and two errors in the frame. 

News & Notes
--Seven of PC's runs in the second game were unearned. 

Up Next
--These two face off in the deciding game three on Sunday with the winner advancing to the six team double-elimination USA South conference tournament in LaGrange, Georgia. 

How to Follow
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