MACON — The Piedmont College softball team extended its season-long win streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep at Wesleyan on Thursday afternoon.
In game one, the Lady Lions (20-5, 8-0 USA South) used a five-run second inning to jump out to a big early lead to win, 9-2. Then, in game two, Piedmont again used one big inning to run away from the Wolves (6-12, 1-5 USA South), this time with a five-run sixth.
Game 1: Piedmont 9, Wesleyan 2
The hot-hitting HANNAH HOBAN continued her strong work at the plate early on, striking for an RBI double to bring home REBEKAH STEGMAYER and give PC a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Then, in the second, Piedmont kept the foot on the pedal, scoring five runs on five hits and taking advantage of one Wesleyan (6-12, 1-5 USA South) error in the frame. KATLYN ANDRIN led off the inning with a single, stole second and came in to score on DREW GRAHAM's double one batter later. After a strikeout, Graham came in to score on an RBI single from TK SAULS. Before the Wolves were out of the inning, the Lady Lions plated three more runs, the last of which came courtesy of ANNA LEE STONE's two-out RBI single.
Already leading 6-0, Stone delivered again in the fourth, this time bringing in LINSAY LINK for a 7-0 Piedmont lead.
Wesleyan added single runs in the fourth and fifth to cut its deficit to five, but the Lady Lions responded with two more runs in the sixth, courtesy of Link's first two RBI of the season.
Starting pitcher MELISSA ECKMAN was solid as usual, throwing a complete game, allowing just two runs with three strikeouts.
Game 2: Piedmont 8, Wesleyan 2
Game two started much the same way for the Lady Lions, as Stegmayer led off with a walk and came around to score on an error.
In the second inning, PC again took advantage of a Wolves defensive lapse, with MADISON GARRETT coming in on a passed ball.
Wesleyan battled back to tie the score in the bottom of the fourth at 2-2.
However, Piedmont answered back immediately, plating five runs in the top of the fifth to take full control of the contest.
After Kennison got the scoring started with an RBI single, it was followed by another single by Hoban to plate two more. The freshmen then got in on the action, with RBI's from Andrin and Graham to conclude the five-run frame.
Kennison gave the Lady Lions an even bigger cushion in the sixth, launching her fourth homer of the season to extend their lead to 8-2.
Entering in the fourth inning in relief of starter KORY BEST, Eckman threw 3.1 shutout innings in game two, and set down the Wolves without much of a threat over the final two frames.
Up next, the Lady Lions will be off for the weekend before traveling to take on Covenant in a road USA South doubleheader this Tuesday, April 2 at 1 p.m.
