NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 3, Alfred 1
Record: Piedmont, 23-12; Alfred, 32-10
 
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Piedmont College's softball team won its second straight elimination game at the UW-Eau Claire regional on Saturday afternoon to advance to the final day of play and avenge a loss from day one.
 
The Lions got revenge on the Saxons of Alfred University (NY) with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory on Saturday to advance to an elimination game on Sunday morning versus either Linfield University (OR) or the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Alfred defeated Piedmont 3-0 on Friday afternoon in the first game of the regional for both teams.
 
Alfred was outdueled 7-5 by the No. 8-ranked Linfield University Wildcats in the Saxons' first game on Saturday, which set up the rematch with Piedmont. Jessica Wilcox, who threw a one-hitter versus Piedmont on Friday, threw over 100 pitches in the game and was not able to start versus the Lions on Saturday.
 
Despite not having their top pitcher, the Alfred offense got an early run on the board with a two-out RBI double from Allison O'Toole that scored Ashley Lugo in the first inning.
 
Piedmont starter MARTINA MALOCH would record just four outs in the game as she was replaced by EMMA MCBRAYER with one out in the top of the second inning after Lugo registered her second hit of the game off Maloch.
 
McBrayer found some more trouble in the inning, but ultimately left the bases loaded to keep the margin at 1-0.
 
On the Alfred side, No. 2 starter Arden Hatch kept the Lions quiet at the plate for much of her start as she allowed just one hit through the first four innings. Piedmont managed to put a runner on base in each of the first four innings but was unable to generate scoring chances.
 
The Lions finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning as pinch-hitter JENNA BROACH worked a one-out walk and was replaced by shortstop DREW GRAHAM on the bases. Two batters later, a booming two-out RBI double from KAITLIN ISLEY got all the way to the wall in right centerfield to score Graham and even the game up at 1-1.
 
In the next at-bat, KATELYN PERRY singled through the right side of the infield to score Isley and put Piedmont ahead 2-1 for the Lions' first lead versus Alfred in the tournament.
 
McBrayer worked a quick and clean inning in the top of the sixth to keep the momentum rolling in Piedmont's direction, and the Lions managed an insurance run in the bottom half on an RBI double from HANNAH MORGAN, scoring MACKENZIE DAVIS for the third and final run of the game for Piedmont.
 
McBrayer again worked a clean inning and put the finishing touches on a dramatic victory that sends the Lions on to the final day of play at their NCAA Regional Tournament. The Lions will have to win three games on Sunday in order to win the regional and advance to the NCAA National Championship in Salem, Virginia on May 27-31.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
 - EMMA MCBRAYER struck out five Saxon hitters and issued zero walks while allowing just four hits during her 5.2 innings of relief, a performance that earned her her 12^th win of the season.
- Six different Lions registered hits in the game, including RBI knocks from KAITLIN ISLEY, KATELYN PERRY, and HANNAH MORGAN.
- For the third consecutive game at the UW-Eau Claire regional, the Piedmont defense committed zero errors in the field.
 
UP NEXT:
- Piedmont will play next at 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. CT on Sunday morning versus the loser of Saturday night's Linfield University (OR) and UW-Oshkosh matchup. With a win, the Lions advance to play the winner of that series, but would have to defeat that team twice on Sunday to win the regional.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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