NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Berry 3, Piedmont 0
Records: Berry 1-0; Piedmont 0-1
ROME, Ga. – The Piedmont College softball team got its long-awaited 2021 season underway on Wednesday afternoon, but the Lady Lions fell 3-0 in a single game at No. 10 Berry College.
The Lady Lions (0-1) were held scoreless in a game for the first time since March 16, 2018, when 8th-ranked Berry beat Piedmont 16-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Walker Athletic Complex.
Wednesday's game was also the first time since 2015 that the Lady Lions began their season on the road (doubleheader at Birmingham-Southern).
Junior pitcher MARTINA MALOCH got the start for the Lady Lions and worked a scoreless first inning before running into trouble in the second.
After a leadoff walk, the Vikings managed to put a pair of runners on base with two outs for freshman Morgan Frye. In her first collegiate at bat, Frye sent a three-run home run to centerfield to put the Vikings up 3-0.
Frye's chance, which turned out to be the game-winning hit, was made possible by a two-out single from Riley Jackson that kept the inning alive.
Maloch was relieved by freshman EMMA MCBRAYER to start the fourth inning after allowing three earned runs on just two hits and three strikeouts.
The Lady Lions were stifled offensively by Berry's starter Morgan Hollis, who pitched a complete game on her way to her first win of the season. Hollis' final line featured no runs on five hits, six strikeouts, and no walks.
Piedmont's best scoring opportunity came with one out in the first inning when Stegmayer went from first to third on a sacrifice bunt from HANNAH SMITH. Stegmayer was stranded there, and the Lady Lions never got another runner to third base the rest of the game.
In total, Piedmont left three runners on base in their limited opportunities.
The Lady Lions now will have over a whole week to get prepared for their first full weekend of action. Piedmont travels to Birmingham, Alabama on February 19-21 for a slate of five games in three days. Birmingham-Southern will host all of the games.
TURNING POINT:
- Bayleigh Masterson's walk to lead off the bottom of the second inning ultimately set the stage for Frye's game-winning three-run homer.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Junior REBEKAH STEGMAYER was one of two Lady Lions to go 2-for-3 at the plate (MacKenzie Davis) while adding one of the team's two stolen bases.
- In her first collegiate appearance, EMMA MCBRAYER pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
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.
