Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Demorest, GA - The Lady Lions dropped a pair of close games to visiting Rhodes College Thursday afternoon, falling 2-1 in the opener before a rally in game two was too little, too late in a narrow 5-3 loss.  Errors plagued Piedmont in the second game, as only three of the five runs were earned.

Game one featured stellar pitching from sophomore Brittney Head, who tossed a complete game, allowing just four hits and two runs, striking out seven to just two walks.  However, the Piedmont offense couldn't get things going despite four hits and drawing five walks.  The Lady Lynx put the pressure on the host team with a pair of first inning runs that would hold up for the win.  A base hit scored the first run before the second came home during a rundown in which the runner on first was caught stealing second.

The Lady Lions had a good chance in the second after junior Jamie Dennis knocked a one-out triple before the next two hitters were sent down swinging.  The third is when Piedmont's lone run came across in an inning that could have been much more.  After a leadoff bunt single by freshman Symone Ball, she was caught stealing moments before junior Megan McClain tripled.  Junior Taylor Morgan brough in McClain with an RBI groundout on the next play.  The Lynx worked out of a jam again in the home half of the fifth when Piedmont left two aboard.

Rhodes again put two on the board to begin game two, and went up 3-0 on Piedmont and starting pitcher, sophomore Amanda Posey.  She went 6.1 innings, allowing five runs, only three earned, on seven hits and four walks.  Junior Megan Kesler brought in the first Lady Lions run on a groundout in the third, plating Morgan.  McClain lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring the deficit to 3-2 an inning later.  However, the run was negated when the Lady Lynx got it back the next half inning.  Down 5-2 in the seventh, Piedmont rallied one last time when senior Emily Cheek doubled in McClain, who had led off with a walk.  Cheek was then stranded to end the game moments later.

The women move to 6-6 on the season after the two losses.  Ball tallied two hits in game one and three overall, while Dennis and McClain had the only other hits in the opening loss.  Sophomore Courtney Clark led the offense in game two with a pair of hits.  Piedmont returns to play when visits arch-rival Maryville College in Great South Athletic Conference play Saturday, with game times at 1:00 and 3:00 pm.