NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 7, Wesleyan 2
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 3, Wesleyan 0
Records: Piedmont 15-8 (4-0 USAS); Wesleyan 11-8 (2-2 USAS)
DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont University's softball team improved its winning streak to nine games with a doubleheader sweep over Wesleyan College on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Lions won game one 7-2 before a stout pitching performance from
MARTINA MALOCH led them to a 3-0 win in game two. Piedmont improved to 4-0 in USA South Conference play with the sweep.
Game 1 – Piedmont 7, Wesleyan 2
Pitching faced a worthy opponent in game one as Wesleyan's Kimmy Dick got the start in the circle. Dick pitched 14 innings against Piedmont last season and allowed just one earned run in those two games.
The Lady Lions weren't fazed against the Wolves' ace on Wednesday as freshman
KENNEDY VOTAVA got the scoring started with a two-out, two-RBI double in the bottom of the second inning to put her team up 2-0.
Piedmont hung yet another crooked number on the board in the bottom of the fourth as four runs came home thanks in part to four extra-base hits.
JENNA BROACH started the big inning with a one-out triple before scoring in the next at-bat on a double from
HANNAH SMITH. Smith later scored on a double from
REBEKAH STEGMAYER before scoring on
KARA TAYLOR's two-RBI double to push the lead to 6-0.
While the Piedmont bats were hard at work, so too was starting pitcher
EMMA MCBRAYER as she held the Wolves scoreless through the first five innings. The sophomore left a pair of Wesleyan baserunners stranded in each of the first two innings before settling down and retiring the Wolves in order in each of the next three frames.
McBrayer found some trouble in the sixth as the Wolves began to figure her own the third time through their order. Three hits led to two runs for the Wolves, leading to sophomore
FAITH VENTO coming on in relief with just one away and two runners on.
Vento induced a pair of softly hit balls for outs as the Lady Lions headed to the bottom half. Smith would score via an error in the bottom of the sixth as Vento closed the deal in the circle in the top of the seventh inning.
Smith went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, an RBI, and a stolen base in game one while McBrayer earned her seventh win behind five strikeouts in her 5.1 innings of work.
Game 2 – Piedmont 3, Wesleyan 0
Neither Piedmont nor Wesleyan had much of anything going offensively in game two, but Piedmont's three runs on just two hits proved to be enough for starting pitcher
MARTINA MALOCH.
The senior and reigning USA South Pitcher of the Year improved her record to 6-4 with the win as she pitched a complete-game shutout in game two. Maloch allowed just four hits in the contest, none of which came after the fourth inning.
Wesleyan's Tihana Zupanic pitched well in game two for the Wolves, but she and her teammates fell victim to some untimely errors, including one in the first inning when Stegmayer scored after an error in the infield allowed Taylor to reach safely.
Zupanic held the Lady Lions in check for three innings after that but surrendered the only earned run of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Stegmayer singled home
KAITLIN ISLEY. Stegmayer finished with Piedmont's only two hits in game two.
Piedmont added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when
MACIE ALLEN scored on a passed ball to put the Lady Lions ahead 3-0. That gave Maloch more than enough breathing room to put the finishing touches on her stellar outing while also completing a third consecutive doubleheader sweep for the Lions.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- For the second straight day, Piedmont completed a doubleheader without committing a single error in the field. That marks four straight games without an error after starting Tuesday's doubleheader with only three such games this season.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
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HANNAH SMITH was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI in game one. She also stole a pair of bases on the day with one in each game.
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MARTINA MALOCH pitched her first seven-inning shutout of the season in game two as she allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out three Wesleyan hitters.
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REBEKAH STEGMAYER stayed hot from her leadoff position and totaled three hits, two runs, two RBIs, and three stolen bases on the day. She also made a diving grab in the first inning of game one to save at least two Wesleyan runs from scoring.
UP NEXT:
- The Lady Lions next play on Tuesday, April 5, when they welcome the Maryville Scots to the Walker Athletic Complex for a conference doubleheader. Game one on April 5 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University 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.
