Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2 

Demorest, GA -- In the first-ever match-up of ranked teams at Walker Athletic Complex, the 21st ranked Piedmont College softball team took a doubleheader split with 7th ranked DePauw University earlier this afternoon. The Lady Lions an emphatic 7-1 victory in game one before the Tigers held on for a tight 7-5 win in game two as the two squads both walked away with a victory on the day.

Game one was all Piedmont as the Lady Lions rolled to a six run decision taking a 1-0 lead early on in this match-up of two nationally ranked squads. It was in the bottom of the first where PC claimed its advantage as a sacrifice fly from designated player Brittney Head got the job done moving sister Lauren across the plate.

That tight margin would hold throughout the contest until the Lady Lions broke free in the bottom of the sixth to provide some insurance for Head Coach Terry Martin. After a pair of RBIs from batter Amy Thompson kicked off the PC scoring, shortstop Megan McClain kept the hit party going with a RBI double that scored outfielder Jordyn Hammontree.

Later in the inning the runs continued to roll on the board with infielder Jamie Dennis following up McClain's double with a two-RBI triple that sent the shortstop and pinch runner COURTNEY CLARK across home plate. Senior outfielder Raley White then rounded out the scoring with a RBI single scoring Dennis to push the score to 7-0 in favor of Piedmont.

A Piedmont error in the outfield gave the seventh ranked Tigers their only run of the first game as pitcher #B.J. Cofer# was near flawless on the mound scattering six hits not allowing an earned run in the complete game performance. The senior arm struck out a pair while issuing her only walk of the afternoon in the top of the seventh.

In the encore match-up, it was advantage Tigers early on as DaPauw stole three runs in the top of the first on a sac fly and a two-RBI single. Piedmont took a run back in the bottom of the opening frame as Megan McClain turned a leadoff walk into a run on a Lauren Head single cutting the deficit to 3-1 after one.

Two more Tiger runs in the top of the second moved the visitor lead up to 5-1 as the DePauw bats continued to come alive in game two. However, McClain once again put up offensive numbers for the home club legging out a RBI triple that put outfielder Taylor Morgan across the plate safely pushing the score to 5-2 DePauw.

Despite getting knocked around in the first two innings, young Lady Lion pitcher Brittney Head settled in to retire the next 12 batters she faced holding the Tigers scoreless over the next four innings. In just her seventh collegiate start, the righty tossed seven innings striking out three allowing nine hits on the day.

Piedmont's offensive climb continued as another McClain triple led off Piedmont's fifth inning at the plate putting the PC shortstop in scoring position with no outs. The sophomore then alertly scored on a sacrifice from JAMIE DENNIS to cut the margin down once more as the Tigers clung to a slim two run advantage 5-3 after five.

Though the home team would give up two in the top of the seventh to the visiting top ten Tigers, the Lady Lions got those two runs right back mounting a seventh inning rally complete with a two-RBI single from #B.J. Cofer# putting the score at 7-5. The tying run came to the plate for the Lady Lions in that seventh, but DePauw's pitching held strong in the pressure situation to record the game's final out holding on for a two-run victory.

The split moves the 21st ranked Lady Lions to 12-4 on the season and 2-1 against ranked opponents. Piedmont now turns to their attention to a tough road trip down to Atlanta tomorrow for a date with the second ranked Eagles of Emory University who took three of four from PC in 2010.  The March 23 doubleheader with #2 Emory is slated for a 2:30 afternoon start.