(DEMOREST) – The Piedmont College softball team saw its rally fall a run short in a 5-4 loss to Emory in the Championship Round of the NCAA Regional in Demorest.
The Eagles (33-11) and the Lady Lions (31-11) will play a winner-take-all game Monday, May 13 t 1 p.m. for the opportunity to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.
After both teams were held off the scoreboard in the first inning, Emory struck for two runs in the top of the second thanks to a sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Sarah Katz.
Eagles starting pitcher Madison Schaefer took advantage of the two-run advantage and cruised through the Piedmont lineup, not allowing a hit through the first six innings.
The Emory offense was unable to add to its 2-0 lead until it plated a single run in the sixth inning on a wild pitch before adding two more on Jenna Wilson’s two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh.
Trailing 5-0 and held without a hit going into the seventh, the PC offense came to life, scoring four times on five hits in the frame.
Hannah Hoban broke up Schaefer’s no-hit bid with a leadoff single to right field to begin the seventh. Then, after a strikeout, the next four consecutive hitters reached for the Lady Lions, capped by Kaylee White’s pinch-hit two RBI single.
Down to its final out, pinch hitter Kristen Mckenzie reached on an infield single which scored Drew Graham from third and put Piedmont within a run for Mariann Kennison, who hit a sharp ground ball that was handled by Emory shortstop Cassie Baca to shut the door on the rally.
Up next, the Lady Lions will take on the Eagles tomorrow at 1 p.m. as Piedmont attempts to win its first regional in program history.
Photo: Michael Wade Event Photography
