NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Maryville 3, Piedmont 2
Records: Piedmont, 25-19; Maryville, 23-19

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Piedmont softball fell in a close battle to Maryville, 3-2, and was eliminated from the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament Friday afternoon in Montgomery, Alabama.

After winning their first game of the tournament, the Lions fell to No. 1 seed Huntingdon but remained alive after a 4-2 win over No. 6 seed LaGrange last night.

In Friday's battle with the Scots, Piedmont was unable to come up with enough offense, scoring just two runs in the close defeat. The loss ends Piedmont's season 0-3 against Maryville.

Even in a losing effort, Piedmont starting pitcher Megan Steinmeyer was strong in the circle, firing all 6.0 innings and allowing just three runs.

It was an inauspicious start for the Lions, when Maryville leadoff hitter Brecca Williams homered to lead off the bottom of the first.

Piedmont was able to manufacture the tying run in the third, scoring on an error. However, Piedmont left the bases loaded and saw a great chance to add a crooked number lost.

The game remained knotted at 1-1 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Scots took advantage of two errors to add a pair of unearned runs against Steinmeyer.

Jordyn Green and Kennedy Votava singled to start a rally in the sixth. Piedmont was able to capitalize with a run on a Maddi Spieks RBI single. Unfortunately, that was all the Lions would score, with the Scots stranding a pair and taking a 3-2 lead to the final frame.

While Steinmeyer was able to hold Maryville at bay in the bottom of the sixth, Piedmont was set down 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game and its tournament run.

TURNING POINT:'
- The Scots scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Spieks, Green and Votava each recorded two hits, totaling six of Piedmont's eight for the game.

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