NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 2, Covenant 0
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 8, Covenant 6 (F/8)
Records: Piedmont, 28-7; Covenant, 11-24
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont College softball team used a late game two rally to sweep a USA South Tournament First Round series against Covenant on Thursday afternoon at the Walker Athletic Complex.
 
The Lady Lions (28-7) used a dominant pitching performance from MELISSA ECKMAN in game one and rallied from down three runs in their final at bat in game two to advance past the Scots in a series sweep.
 
Game 1: Piedmont 2, Covenant 0
 
Piedmont wasted no time jumping out to an early lead in game one, as HANNAH HOBAN's first-inning RBI single was all the team needed in the shutout victory.
 
Starting pitcher MELISSA ECKMAN was dominant in the circle, throwing a complete game, three-hit shutout to earn her team-leading 12th win of the season.
 
Covenant (11-24) threatened in the second, third and fourth innings, but were unable to come away with a much-needed hit as Eckman continued to escape trouble.
 
The Lady Lions added a key insurance run on Hoban's RBI ground out in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Eckman settled back in after the third, allowing just two baserunners form the fourth inning through the end of the game.
 
Game 2: Piedmont 8, Covenant 6 (F/8)
 
In a carryover from game one, game two was shaping up to be a pitcher's duel in the early innings.
 
Playing as the visiting team in game two of the series, PC struck for an early run on another RBI ground out from Hoban that brought home REBEKAH STEGMAYER.
 
Covenant tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second on Jada Allmon's two-out RBI single before the Lady Lions retook the lead on Hoban's third-inning sacrifice fly.
 
Stegmayer's infield hit in the sixth brought home TK SAULS and extended Piedmont's lead to 3-1 with six outs left to get.

However, the Scots roared back with a five-run sixth inning on five hits and two Piedmont errors. 
 
Trailing 6-3 heading to their final at bat, the Lady Lions immediately started a rally on Hoban's leadoff double.
 
After KAYLEE WHITE was retired, ANNA LEE STONE singled up the middle to bring in Hoban and cut PC's deficit to 6-4.
 
MADISON GARRETT followed with an infield single before KATLYN ANDRIN grounded out to first. That set the stage for freshman DREW GRAHAM, who singled home two runs to tie the score with two outs in the seventh.
 
Having entered in relief of starter MADISON WHITESIDE in Covenant's five-run sixth, Eckman returned to the circle in the seventh and fired a scoreless frame.
 
The dynamic duo of Kennison and Hoban struck once again in the eighth, as Hoban drove her second consecutive double to left field to score Kennison for the go-ahead run. Two batters later, TAYLOR BROWN lined an opposite field single to bring home a critical insurance run for the Lady Lions.
 
After one Scot hitter reached, Eckman retired two in a row to seal the win for the Lady Lions.
 
Up next, Piedmont will travel to LaGrange, Georgia to continue play in the USA South Tournament. The Lady Lions will face the winner of the First Round series between Salem and Greensboro.
 
Before that, the Lady Lions are scheduled to close out their regular season with a doubleheader at Berry on Monday, April 22 at Berry, beginning at 4 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT:
- In game one, HANNAH HOBAN's RBI single in the first was all that was needed as MELISSA ECKMAN dominated with a complete game, three-hit shutout for Piedmont.
- Trailing 6-4 in the top of the seventh with two on and two out, freshman shortstop DREW GRAHAM came through in the clutch for the Lady Lions, delivering the game-tying single and keeping PC alive to win in extra frames.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Leadoff hitter REBEKAH STEGMAYER recorded five total hits over the two games.
- HANNAH HOBAN drove in both Piedmont runs in game one and three more in game two, including the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the seventh.
- On the pitching side, MELISSA ECKMAN earned the win in both games to improve to 13-5 on the season.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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