NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 9, Brevard 0 (F/5)
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 12, Brevard 4 (F/5)
Records: Piedmont, 25-6 (13-1 USA South); Brevard, 15-22 (7-9 USA South)
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont College softball team tallied 27 hits over two games and rolled to a home doubleheader sweep of Brevard on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Starting pitcher MELISSA ECKMAN no-hit the Tornados (15-22, 7-9 USA South) over five innings in a 9-0 game one rout. Then, in game two, she came out of the bullpen as HANNAH HOBAN's five RBI paced a 19-hit Piedmont (25-6, 13-1 USA South) attack in another five-inning eight-run victory.
 
Game 1: Piedmont 9, Brevard 0 (F/5)
 
The Lady Lions wasted no time in game one, as MARIANN KENNISON's second home run in as many games scored REBEKAH STEGMAYER to give PC an early 2-0 lead.
 
DREW GRAHAM's smart baserunning allowed the Lady Lions to manufacture a run in the third as Eckman continued to cruise in the circle.
 
After being held off the scoreboard in the third, Piedmont broke the game wide open in the fourth, scoring six times on five hits to take a nine-run lead.
 
The rally started after there were two outs and nobody on. With Graham already aboard, HALEY MCCURRY's RBI single started the scoring barrage. With Stegmayer's walk loading the bases for Kennison, the senior left fielder delivered once again, scoring two more on a single to left.
 
That set the stage for Hoban, who crushed a three-run blast to left field to give PC a 9-0 lead.
 
The Tornados had one batter reach on an error in the top of the fifth, but the senior right-hander closed out the five-inning no-hitter and the 9-0 win.
 
Game 2: Piedmont 12, Brevard 4 (F/5)
 
Hoban picked up right where she left off, this time going to right field for a two-run shot to score Kennison.
 
Another RBI from Kennison plated KATLYN ANDRIN to give the Lady Lions a 3-0 lead after two innings.
 
However, Brevard responded by scoring four times on four hits and a Piedmont error. The Tornados also chased PC starter MADISON WHITESIDE from the game, as Eckman was forced to escape a bases-loaded jam to keep Piedmont's deficit at just a run.
 
The Lady Lions entered the bottom of the fourth still trailing, 4-3, but scored five times in the frame to regain control.
 
With the bases loaded, Hoban drove in TK SAULS to tie the game at 4-4 before ANNA LEE STONE's RBI single gave PC the lead for good. Piedmont tacked on two more on KAYLEE WHITE's triple and a pinch-hit single from RACHEL OBERHOLTZER.
 
After a scoreless top of the fifth from Eckman, PC continued its momentum, plating fourmore runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Hoban's line-drive two-RBI double to center field and capped by Andrin's RBI double to close out the 12-4 victory.
 
TURNING POINT:
- In game one, MARIANN KENNISON's two-run shot in the first inning proved to be all that MELISSA ECKMAN needed, as the senior no-hit the Tornados over five shutout innings.
- Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two, Piedmont scored nine runs over its last two innings to win its second-straight game in five innings.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- After five no-hit innings in game one, MELISSA ECKMAN fired 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts to earn her 11th win of the season in game two.
- HANNAH HOBAN hit two home runs and drove in eight runs over the two games.
- MARIANN KENNISON went 6-for-7 at the plate, including a home run and six RBI.
- In her return to the lineup, ANNA LEE STONE tallied three hits, all coming in game two.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Hoban's eight RBI propelled her to the Piedmont single-season record for RBI in a season.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Piedmont's 19 hits in game two marked a season high.
 
UP NEXT:
- The Lady Lions travel to Maryville for a doubleheader this Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. The Scots are 12-0, one game ahead of Piedmont for first place in the USA South West Division.
 
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 Piedmont Golf on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.