NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 4, Covenant 3
Records: Piedmont, 25-14; Covenant, 14-27
OXFORD, Ala. - Piedmont softball overcame a late deficit to win its opening game of the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament, 4-3, over Covenant on Wednesday afternoon in Oxford, Alabama.
The Lions showed resilience, scoring four unanswered runs after falling behind 3-0 in the early going.
Freshman
Jalyn McGee did outstanding work in relief in the circle, tossing 4.1 innings while allowing four hits, no runs with one strikeout to earn the win as the Piedmont offense came to life late.
The Scots jumped out to a quick lead with a single run in the first, followed by two more in the third inning to lead 3-0.
Piedmont delivered one hit in each of its first two at bats, but stranded the runner both times.
Then, after going down in order in the third inning, the Lions finally broke through in the fourth. With two outs and nobody on,
Valerie Bailey singled to start the rally. After a
Hannah Cintron walk, Head Coach
Terry Martin called on
Avarie Easters as a pinch hitter, and the sophomore stepped up in a big way, with a single to right field, driving home one run while another scored on an error to cut the Piedmont deficit to 3-2.
With McGee cruising in the circle, the Lions needed at least one run over the final two frames to extend the game. The sixth inning proved decisive, as Piedmont's first four hitters in the inning all reached base. Cintron's bunt single tied the game at 3-all before an RBI groundout from freshman
Bailee Davis brought home the go ahead and eventual winning run to make it 4-3 in favor of Piedmont.
There was no drama in the seventh, as McGee retired Covenant in order to send the Lions into the winner's bracket.
Piedmont will have a tall task ahead of it tomorrow, battling Huntingdon at 2 p.m. (EDT).
TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont used a two-run sixth inning to turn a one-run deficit into a one-run lead, and then shut the door in the seventh to advance to the winner's bracket.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Easters went 2-for-2, first entering as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning.
- McGee was outstanding in relief, earning the win with 4.1 shutout innings.
-
Mandi Peretti went 2-for-3 from the No. 2 spot in the batting order.
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.
