NEED TO KNOW:
Score: (#20) Piedmont 6, Methodist 0
Records: (#20) Piedmont (29-9); Methodist (23-21)
DEMOREST, Ga. – The 20
th-ranked Piedmont University softball didn't want to make things harder than they needed to be on Saturday afternoon as it took down the Methodist Monarchs 6-0 to advance to next weekend's USA South Tournament Championship Series.
The Lady Lions went 3-0 at home over the last three days to win their four-team pod of the tournament field, sending them to the tournament's championship series for the second year in a row.
The location of next weekend's championship series is yet to be determined and hinges on the result of the Wesleyan-Pfeiffer game(s) on Saturday afternoon in Misenheimer, North Carolina. Pending the outcome, Piedmont will either host Wesleyan next week or travel to play at Pfeiffer.
Piedmont was the visiting team in the scorebook on Saturday by way of a coin flip, and the Lions jumped all over their chance to hit first at their home field.
A throwing error advanced leadoff hitter
KAITLIN ISLEY to second base after she led off the game with a single. Isley then stole third on the next pitch and managed to scamper home as the errant throw bounced off her legs and toward the third base dugout.
DREW GRAHAM worked a walk during that time and followed Isley's lead almost exactly. Graham stole second and then third as another throwing error, the third in the inning for Methodist catcher Heather Tsapp, allowed Graham to score and put Piedmont ahead 2-0.
The Monarchs threatened to stay in the game early as they benefitted from a Piedmont error and moved two runners into scoring position in the home half of the first.
Piedmont starter
MARTINA MALOCH worked around the jam with three straight outs to leave a pair of Methodist runners stranded, then stranded another pair in the home half of the second inning to squash the best scoring chances of the day for the Monarchs.
Piedmont added an insurance run in the third on an RBI double from
KARA TAYLOR, then another single run in each the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to slowly widen the gap.
Graham,
HANNAH SMITH, and
MICAELA QUESADA produced RBIs during that stretch that helped give Maloch more breathing room that she ever needed.
The senior pitcher allowed just four hits and struck out two Methodist hitters en route to her second complete-game victory in as many games. The shutout also marked her fourth of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Lions were credited with 10 stolen bases in the contest, their most in a single game this season and tied for sixth-most in program history.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
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MARTINA MALOCH pitched another complete game shutout to earn her second win in as many days. She allowed just one earned run over her 14 innings in the bracket.
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DREW GRAHAM was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, an RBI, and was responsible for starting the 5-4-3 double play in the bottom of the seventh inning on defense.
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LEXI CHITWOOD got the start in left field and made a sensational diving catch in the bottom of the fourth inning to rob Methodist's Madison Sanchez of an extra-base hit.
UP NEXT:
- Piedmont will play next weekend in the USA South Tournament Championship Series. Start times, dates, and opponents are all yet to be determined.
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.
