For immediate release – 5/9/2014 - #365
Hornets Downed 6-4 in First Game of Atlanta Regional

ATLANTA, GA – The first game of the Atlanta Regional did not go the way of the Hornet softball team as the No. 2 seed, Piedmont College, downed No. 3 seed Lynchburg College 6-4 in the first game.

Piedmont strung together a series of hits in the first inning to get on the board first. Abby Atkinson singled up the middle and was bunted to second where she scored on Olivia Duncan's single to center.

Lynchburg tied up the game in the second inning on one swing. Amber Ingram worked Brittany Head into a full count, and then turned on the seventh pitch of the at bat to bang a home run off the batting cages beyond the center field wall.

The Lions took the lead for good in the third inning as the first two batters singled. Following a strikeout, Duncan drove in her second RBI of the game. Jessica Perschka capped off the scoring with a two-run single to center.

A smart defensive play ended the inning as a throw to home allowed Perschka to move to second. The ball was corralled by Michaela Munday who threw it to third as Perschka raced towards the bag. The runner from third was chased back by Munday and both runners were tagged out via an unorthodox double play.

Lynchburg trailed 6-2 heading into the top of the sixth when the Hornets rallied. Danielle Powell singled up the middle off Head to bring Kayla St. John to the plate. St. John fouled off four pitches and was behind 1-2 in the count when she laced a ball deep down the left field line for a two-run homer. Ingram singled in the subsequent at bat, but the Lions were able to get out of the jam for the win.

Atkinson, Duncan, Perschka and Abby Smith all had two hits on the day while Perschka drove in three for Piedmont (42-6).

Ingram went 3-for-3 while St. John was 2-for-3 with three combined RBI and three runs scored.

Lynchburg (30-15) will play No. 4 seeded Agnes Scott College (23-21) Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.