NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 7, Methodist 3
Records: Piedmont (27-9); Methodist (21-20)
DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont University's softball team jumped out to a big lead and then cruised to victory over Methodist University on Thursday afternoon to open play in its portion of the USA South Tournament.
The top-seeded Lady Lions took down the fourth-seeded Monarchs 7-3 in the first game of the tournament after hanging four runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning to kick-start the weekend.
Three extra-base hits totaled four RBIs in the bottom of the first for the Lady Lions as a double from
KARA TAYLOR, a triple from
LYNDZI PARTLOW, and a double from
HANNAH MORGAN produced four runs in the frame.
While the Monarchs responded with a single run in the top of the second, there wasn't much momentum to be built as Piedmont starter
EMMA MCBRAYER managed to limit Methodist's scoring chances.
The Monarchs left a total of 10 runners on base in the game, including six between their second and fifth innings when Piedmont was held scoreless.
Methodist used three hits in the top of the fifth to get a run back, but couldn't keep the Lady Lions quiet in the bottom half. Two more Piedmont runs came home in the frame thanks to an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, along with another RBI double from Morgan to make it 6-2.
One final insurance run crossed home in the bottom of the sixth as Taylor singled home
REBEKAH STEGMAYER, giving McBrayer a five-run cushion heading to the seventh.
Methodist didn't make it easy on McBrayer or the Lady Lions defense as Kayleigh Raynor led off with a single. With a big lead, Piedmont pulled McBrayer and charged
FAITH VENTO with getting the final three outs.
Vento would hit a pair of Monarch batters and allow a sacrifice fly, but secured the first two outs of the inning and looked poised to limit the damage.
With two outs, Grace Hobbs singled to left field as Haley Fethke tried to score from second. Piedmont's left fielder
HANNAH SMITH had other plans as a perfect throw to home cut down Fethke to end the ballgame.
Smith's big play sent the Lady Lions on to Friday with a win and gave
EMMA MCBRAYER her 12
th win of the season.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
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KARA TAYLOR continued her recent hot streak with a 3-for-3 performance while adding a pair of RBIs and scoring a run.
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HANNAH MORGAN was reliable as always, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs of her own. For each Taylor and Morgan, two of their three hits were doubles.
UP NEXT:
- The Piedmont bracket of the USA South Tournament will continue with three games on Friday, starting at 12:00 p.m. when Covenant takes on Methodist in an elimination game. Piedmont will face off with Greensboro, which beat Covenant 2-0 on Thursday, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Game five of the tournament is scheduled for 4:00 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.
