DEMOREST — The Piedmont College softball team picked up a pair of wins in conference play Friday taking both games of a doubleheader against William Peace. Piedmont scored twice in each contest taking a 2-1 win in game one and won 2-0 in game two.
The scoring started early in the first contest as William Peace had a pair of doubles to plate a run in the top of the first. The Lady Lions answered as JOSIE COKER drove in a pair of unearned runs after HANNAH HOBAN singled, JESSICA BAGWELL reached on an error and Coker drilled one up the middle with two outs to give Piedmont the advantage.
The game would quickly quiet from that point on as neither team had more than one hit in an inning. SARAH WALKER picked up the win moving to 7-5 on the season tossing the complete game giving up five hits, one run and striking out five.
Game two continued the pitcher's duel as MELISSA ECKMAN had a no-hitter through the first seven batters with three of her four strikeouts coming in that opening span. Piedmont had a pair of singles in the bottom of the third but HALEY HIXON was thrown out at home neutralizing the scoring opportunity.
The Lady Lions would score in the next inning as BECKA ROSS hit a grounder back to the pitcher for the sacrifice but ALEXIS OWENS was rounding second heading for third and an error by the first baseman sent the ball past Piedmont's dugout and allowed Owens to score the game winning run.
Piedmont would tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth with two outs as MADISON MARTIN drew a walk and HANNAH HOBAN singled to score Hixon who re-entered. MELISSA ECKMAN earned the win moving to 8-4 on the season posting her eighth outing without giving up an earned run.
Turning Point
--A JOSIE COKER single up the middle scored the two runs PC needed to secure the win in game one as all three runs in the contest were scored in the first inning.
--An error in the bottom of the fourth allowed ALEXIS OWENS to score after a BECKA ROSS sacrifice was moving her around to third, but the throw was wide and Owens scored the game winner for PC.
Standout Performances
--MELISSA ECKMAN pitched the complete game in the second game allowing just two hits and walking three batters over her seven innings.
--HANNAH HOBAN was 3-for-3 in the second contest with an RBI driving in the second run of the game.
Inside the Box Score
--The Piedmont pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts Friday against the Pacers.
News & Notes
--Piedmont is now 8-2 in conference play and has won five straight in USA South action.
Up Next
--The Lady Lions host North Carolina Wesleyan Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1.
