NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 7, Emory 0
Game 2 Score: Emory 9, Piedmont 2
Records: Piedmont, 12-5; Emory, 8-4
 
ATLANTA – The Piedmont College softball team earned a split in a road doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Emory.
 
In game one, the Lady Lions (12-5) used a dominant pitching performance by MELISSA ECKMAN and broke the game open with four runs in the top of the sixth. Then, in the nightcap, the. Eagles bounced back to cruise to a 9-2 victory and salvage the doubleheader split.
 
Game 1: Piedmont 7, Emory 0
 
Neither team was able to strike through the first two innings, but Piedmont jumped in front in the top of the third thanks to an RBI double by HANNAH HOBAN, which was followed up with MADISON GARRETT's RBI single.
 
After being held scoreless in the fourth, the Lady Lions pounced for another run in the fifth, as MARIANN KENNISON's single to left field brought home REBEKAH STEGMAYER for her second run of the contest.
 
Leading 3-0 heading to the sixth, the Lady Lions broke the game open with four runs thanks to a couple hits and two Emory errors.
 
KATLYN ANDRIN led off the frame with an RBI single and stole second before heading to third as DREW GRAHAM reached on an error with one out. Then, on a sacrifice bunt attempt, TK SAULS reached on another error, bringing Andrin and Graham around to score and giving PC a 5-0 edge.
 
Piedmont added its third run of the inning on Hoban's second RBI hit of the contest, before Kennison came around to score the team's seventh and final run of the game.
 
The seven-run lead was plenty to work with for starting pitcher MELISSA ECKMAN, who pitched her second complete-game shutout of the season striking out two Eagles and evening her record to 4-4 on the season.
 
Game 2: Emory 9, Piedmont 2
 
The Eagles flipped the script in game two, scoring in every inning from the second on and running away with a 9-2 victory.
 
Emory broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second on Lana Herrmann's three-run home run.
 
After the Eagles added another run in the third, the Lady Lions cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth on TK SAULS' RBI double that drove home DREW GRAHAM.
 
Herrmann struck again in the bottom of the inning, this time with a solo shot to give the Eagles a 5-1 lead.
 
Hoban drove home Kennison for Piedmont's second run on a fifth inning double, but it was too late, as the Eagles scored three more times in the bottom of the frame to take a 9-2 lead which held the rest of the way.
 
The Lady Lions are back in action tomorrow, as they return home to Demorest to host a doubleheader with conference foe Agnes Scott, starting at 1 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT:
- In game one, Piedmont was already leading 3-0 when they took advantage of a pair of Emory errors to score four times and put the game out of reach.
- In game two. Emory's Lana Herrmann broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a three-run blast to give the Eagles a lead they never relinquished.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- The 1-2-3 hitters in the Piedmont order stood out in game one, as REBEKAH STEGMAYER, MARIANN KENNISON and HANNAH HOBAN combined to go 7-for-11 with three RBI and five runs scored.
- Stegmayer had two hits and scored a team-high three runs.
- Kennison went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.
- Hoban had three hits in four tries, drove in two and scored a run.
- MELISSA ECKMAN turned in her second complete-game shutout of the season, scattering seven hits and striking out two to earn her fourth win of the campaign.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.