Box Score Atlanta, GA - The Piedmont College softball team found itself on the wrong end of an absolute thriller in Atlanta as the hosting top seed Emory University Eagles stole a 13-12 decision from PC with a three-run 7th.  Though it was Abby Smith's three-run home run in the 1st that sparked the crowd early, Emory homered four times on the day including back-to-back shots in the 7th that tied the game at 12's before the Eagles got their 13th to finish off a big win at home.

The scoreboard was lit up throughout the day as the two combined for 25 runs, one of the highest scoring games for both teams on the season.  The two nationally ranked foes combined for only one scoreless inning as well as the 2nd was 0's for both, but the rare frame stood alone as Emory started the scoring with a pair in the top of the first. 

Those two in the 1st set the table for an offensive morning as Piedmont tallied two runs with back-to-back 1-out singles from Laura Carter and Jordin Ellingson as the Lady Lions tied it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the 1st as Piedmont was the home team in this morning contest.

Drama then ensued as Abby Smith crushed an Emory pitch to the wall in center with the ball tapping the top of the fence before dropping over for a three-run home run that put Piedmont up 5-2.  However, a 30-plus minute delay would ensue as the umpires conferred to determine if a 'time' call from the Emory dugout came in time just before the Smith homer.

After consultation gallore in Atlanta, the call would stand and Smith's home run put Piedmont up comfortably 5-2 after one inning and just about an hour played. With drama being the word of the day on the Emory campus, the Eagles stayed with the theme belting a three-run home run of their own off the bat of Ally Kersthold that tied the game at 5.

Not to be denied the lead, Piedmont responded in the bottom of the 3rd with a four-spot including two on an Olivia Duncan base hit to left field as she continues to tear it up in the postseason.  Duncan was a perfect 3-for-3 today to raise her batting average in NCAA play to a video game-like .706 when including her numbers from last year's Regional in Salem. 

Leading by four now through three complete at 9-5, Piedmont saw Emory get a run back in the 4th on the second of four home runs on the day. The Eagles would give that one back though with an error on two outs in the home half that allowed Jessica Perschka to score and put PC back up four, 10-6.

For the second time on the day, Emory would overcome a three-run deficit or more in a single inning as the Eagles scored four in the top of the 6th to tie it up at 10-10 with the last two runs coming on a two-out pinch hit by Sydney Cohen.  Piedmont starter Brittney Head was replaced in the circle by Jordin Ellingson who induced a pop-up to short that ended the threat leaving two Eagles stranded.  

Piedmont looked to be surging ahead for the final time when they tallied two in the home half as Ellingson would collect a sac fly that scored pinch runner Christine Mobley.  The Lady Lions were not done as Laura Carter picked up her third base hit of the day as the center fielder was also 3-for-3 on the day joining Duncan who was also perfect at the plate scoring twice and driving in one.

With Carter's base hit scoring Duncan, PC held a 12-10 lead and stood just three outs away from a spot in the Regional championship.  However, back-to-back home runs by the Eagles including a second from UAA Player of the Year Megan Light sparked a 1-out rally that tied up the ballgame at 12-12 with the Eagles having two outs to play with.

The homers forced another Piedmont pitching change with Head coming back in as the senior picked up the second out of the inning, but a double to the gap in right scored an Eagle from first as Emory took the lead, 13-12, for the first time since the first inning of a marathon to open Saturday.  PC and EU faced off for nearly three hours in the thriller that featured 27 combined hits, five home runs, and three doubles.

After falling behind by one, a three-up, three-down bottom of the 7th from PC sealed the comeback for Emory as the Eagles held on for a 13-12 victory that put the hosting top seed into the championship round Sunday starting at noon.  Piedmont (42-7) meanwhile will move on to face the winner of 3rd seeded Lynchburg and 4th seeded Agnes Scott College for a chance to move on to Sunday. 

Game time for that game five is not yet set as the Hornets and Scotties were delayed due to the long opener between the Eagles and the Lady Lions.  Stay tuned to the Atlanta Regional homepage provided by the Office of Sports Information at Emory University.