Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Demorest, GA - The Lady Lions softball team split two games with USA South Conference opponent Christopher Newport University today by scores of 1-2 in 8 innings and 6-3. Both teams came into the day's games after sweeping opponents yesterday; N.C. Wesleyan College was downed by the Lady Lions and the Captains defeated LaGrange College. #14 Piedmont and #12 Christopher Newport previously matched up at the NFCA Leadoff Classic last weekend where Piedmont was victorious 7-3.

The first game of the series started off with a bang for the Lady Lions. Senior Megan McClain tripled from the leadoff position and scored on the following play by a single from fellow senior Taylor Morgan. Three-hole hitter Olivia Duncan continued the hitting streak with another single but did not make it around the bases as the Captains used the next two batters to get three outs and end the first.

It wasn't until the top of the fourth inning that Christopher Newport could break through Piedmont's defense. Sabrina Hill homered to right field for the Captains in-between flyouts to give CNU the equalizer.

After a seventh inning that saw Piedmont unable to capitalize on loaded bases, Christopher Newport took advantage of the extra innings runner placed on second. A groundout and flyout allowed Kelley Foate to advance to third base and then home. The Lady Lions could not accomplish the same task in the bottom of the 8th due to strong pitching by the Captains.

Junior Brittney Head pitched the complete eight innings giving up seven hits and striking out three. She moves to 7-2 on the season.

In today's finale, Christopher Newport University was the team to score first. In the top of the first, a single by Sabrina Hill brought their leadoff hitter to home plate. Piedmont would not leave the score unanswered, though. McClain, Morgan, Duncan, and Megan Kesler were all batted in before the inning was over. Kesler drove two runs in herself with a single before arriving at home thanks to Jordin Ellingson's triple.

The Captains took advantage of a fielding error in the top of the second to get their second run of the game. In the bottom of the third, Jamie Dennis made her way around to third thanks to a sacrifice bunt by catcher Lauren Head and scored on another Ellingson hit.

One run on three hits in the seventh by Christopher Newport was not enough to close the gap and the Lady Lions tooke the final game of the day 6-3. Ellingson pitched the complete seven innings and earned her seventh win of the season with four strikeouts.

The Piedmont College softball team is now 15-3 on the season and moves to 5-1 in the USA South Conference after the split doubleheader with CNU. The Lady Lions return to action at Walker Field on Wednesday, March 20th for a USA South Conference doubleheader with LaGrange College at 2:00 pm.