Need to Know
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 1, William Peace 0
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 4, Averett 5 F/8
Records: Lady Lions 29-12 (16-4 USA South), Pacers 23-18 (11-9 USA South), Cougars 24-15 (14-6 USA South)
Location: Rocky Mount, N.C. - Rocky Mount Sports Complex

Rocky Mount, N.C. - On day one of USA South Tournament action, the Piedmont College softball team split a pair of contests picking up a 1-0 win over William Peace and losing a tough 5-4 game to Averett in eight innings.

SARAH WALKER earned the start in the circle in both games with in a win against William Peace allowing just five hits while Piedmont only recorded three of its own. The winning run for the Lady Lions came in the first inning when Piedmont had a pair of hits, a walk and then a wild pitch drove in a run. 

Game two provided more offense on the scoreboard but Piedmont still had just four hits despite grinding out four runs. Averett took the lead in the first and added to it with a two-run home run in the second inning making it 3-0 Cougars after the top of the second. 

Piedmont got back a pair in the bottom of the frame when HALEY MCCURRY reached on an error and two came around to score for the Lady Lions. Another home run by Averett made it 4-2, but Piedmont got a long shot of its own when HANNAH HOBAN broke the Piedmont NCAA Era school record for home runs in a season with her eighth, driving a solo shot to left center.

JESSICA BAGWELL singled and LAURA CARTER scored to tie the game at four in the fifth, but neither team could break the tie in seven innings. In the eighth however, the Cougars had one run on two hits to take the lead and win the game. 

Turning Point
--A wild pitch allowed LAURA CARTER to score for the lone run of the game against William Peace. 
--An RBI-single for the Cougars in the top of the eighth led to Averett's victory in extra innings. 

Standout Performances
--SARAH WALKER pitched both complete games with a win against William Peace giving up just five hits, no runs and striking out a pair of batters. 
--ALLISON VAUGHN was 2-for-3 against Averett with half of Piedmont's hits with a run scored and a walk. 

Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont was walked five times by the Pacers while Walker did not lose a single batter to a walk.
--HANNAH HOBAN hit a home run against Averett to give her the NCAA Era record for Piedmont with 8 this season. 

News & Notes
--Piedmont is now in the loser's bracket with one loss in the double elimination tournament. 

Up Next
--Piedmont will face the winner of Greensboro v. Huntingdon on Saturday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m.  

How to Follow
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