By Chris Bridges
Correspondent
DAMASCUS, Ga. — The Piedmont Academy varsity softball team advanced to the GISA Class AA semifinals on Monday by sweeping Southwest Georgia on the road.
The Lady Cougars took a 5-1 win in the quarterfinal series opener before closing the deal with a 9-0 victory in game two. The games were played in Damascus.
“This was a great win for our program,” coach Joe Johnson said. “This is a special group of girls. They work hard and our leadership from our seniors helps put us over the top.”
Game one was tied after the first two innings when the Lady Cougars scored twice in the top of the third. Two additional runs in the top of the fifth inning sealed the win.
Piedmont was paced by Haley Ann Frank and Ava Anglin in game one with two hits each. Anglin drove in three runs while Emily McEwen and Fleming Sealy both had an RBI.
Averi Camp pitched all seven innings and had three strikeouts.
In game two the Lady Cougars fell behind 1-0 after the top of the first but took the lead with two runs in the bottom half. Piedmont was the designated home team in the second contest Monday.
The Lady Cougars added three runs in the second inning, one in both the third and fourth frames and two more in the fifth. Frank had three hits in the series clinching contest while Marissa Holder added two.
McKayla Arnold, Frank and Holder each drew walks. McEwen drove in three runs and Holder added an RBI. McEwen’s double in the bottom of the fifth inning sealed the win.
Jayden Young also had a key hit in the third inning to score Abby Arnold.
McEwen worked in the pitcher’s circle going five innings with two strikeouts.
“I’m super excited about these two big wins,” Anglin said. “It was especially exiting winning playoff softball on the road. It was a complete team effort. We were seeing the ball pretty well while having good quality at bats. I am very proud of our pitchers for only giving up one run per game and pitching out of trouble. Our plan is to get to work this week and be ready for round two on Saturday.”
Piedmont will travel to Brentwood in Sandersville on Saturday for the semifinal round.
“I like how we match up with them,” Johnson said.