NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1: (#16) Piedmont 4, Wesleyan 2
Game 2: (#16) Piedmont 3, Wesleyan 0
Records: Piedmont (29-9); Methodist (23-21)
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
MARTINA MALOCH (MVP)
REBEKAH STEGMAYER
KARA TAYLOR
KAITLIN ISLEY
DREW GRAHAM
HANNAH MORGAN
DEMOREST, Ga. – The 16
th-ranked Piedmont University softball team captured its second consecutive USA South Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon with a sweep over fifth-seeded Wesleyan College at the Walker Athletic Complex.
For the second season in a row, the Lady Lions celebrated as conference tournament champions on their home field after 4-2 and 3-0 victories over the Wolves on Saturday. Piedmont was likely headed towards an at-large bid regardless, but is now guaranteed to play in an NCAA Regional tournament for the third season in a row (2019, 2021, 2022).
MARTINA MALOCH highlighted the doubleheader with another stellar outing in game two with her second shutout of the tournament, good enough to earn her Tournament MVP honors.
Maloch led the way for Piedmont six's All-Tournament Team selections, as she was joined on the team by
REBEKAH STEGMAYER,
KARA TAYLOR,
KAITLIN ISLEY,
DREW GRAHAM, and
HANNAH MORGAN.
Game 1: Piedmont 4, Wesleyan 2
Piedmont got things started early on as
KAITLIN ISLEY scored on a sacrifice fly from
KARA TAYLOR in the bottom of the first. Isley doubled and stole third to set up the first run of the series and give her Lions an early advantage.
That lead was short lived as Wesleyan responded in the next half inning as Marilynn Nesmith tripled to left centerfield, bringing home Jasmine Staley. On the play,
DREW GRAHAM's throw to third was almost too accurate as it hit Nesmith in the back as she stood in at third.
As a result, the ball bounced away and allowed Nesmith to score and give the Wolves a 2-1 lead.
After that tough break, Piedmont starter
EMMA MCBRAYER locked in and sat down 11 straight Wesleyan hitters, giving her offense a chance to get back in the game.
The Lady Lions did just that in the bottom of the fifth inning as back-to-back walks from
REBEKAH STEGMAYER and Isley set up another huge moment for Taylor as the sophomore first baseman lined the first pitch she saw off the centerfield wall, plating both runners to retake the lead at 3-2.
Piedmont manufactured an insurance run in the sixth as pinch runner
LEXI CHITWOOD stole second and then scored on an infield throwing error. McBrayer didn't need that extra run, but it sure helped as she worked a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to secure game one and earn her her 15
th win of the year.
Game 2: Piedmont 3, Wesleyan 0
The Lady Lions were the visiting team in game two and jumped out to yet another early lead as Isley again made things happen on the bases. The junior stole third on a delayed steal and then came home as the rushed throw from Wesleyan pitcher Tihana Zupanic sailed down the left field line.
That 1-0 lead would have been enough for Maloch as she went the distance yet again in the decisive game two. The senior ran into some trouble in the first, but worked out of it thanks in part to a double play turned by her defense.
After the first inning, Maloch churned out four straight 1-2-3 innings, turning the game into yet another typical outing for her as she began to cruise in the middle innings.
The Lady Lions were most held in control by Zupanic on offense, but managed to push the lead to 3-0 in the sixth as good baserunning again forced the issue.
After a leadoff double from Taylor, pinch runner
HANNAH CALLAWAY stole third and then took home on an RBI groundout from McBrayer. Later,
HANNAH SMITH intentionally got in a rundown between first and second to allow
LEXI CHITWOOD to steal home for Piedmont's third run of the game.
That third run was more than enough insurance for Maloch, who finished off the game with another clean inning that featured a pair of strikeouts to give her six for the game, matching a season-high.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-
MARTINA MALOCH earned tournament MVP honors as she pitched another complete game and shutout the Wolves in game two. She allowed just three hits and struck out six.
-
KARA TAYLOR went 3-for-5 in the doubleheader with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. All three RBIs came in game one with two coming on the game-winning two-run double in the fifth inning.
UP NEXT:
- Piedmont has secured an automatic bid in the upcoming NCAA National Tournament. The Lady Lions will learn their regional destination and opponents during the NCAA Selection Show at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 9, on ncaa.com.
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.
