Birmingham, AL - Though Mother Nature delayed the start of the 2015 season for the Piedmont College Softball team, the Lady Lions saw a successful start to the season splitting a doubleheader on the road at Birmingham Southern. The Lady Lions opened the year with a win against the Panthers 5-4 and dropped the second contest 4-0.

In game one, SARAH WALKER took the hill for the Lady Lions, tossing a complete game, giving up eight hits and striking out five. The sophomore recorded her first win of the season giving up just four runs with only two earned and giving up two walks.

It was the Panthers who got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first, but Piedmont matched it in the top of the second. BECKA ROSS scored her first run of her career as the freshman advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on a throwing error.

Birmingham Southern answered the Lady Lions' run in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the second after Micaela Beck homered to left center. In the third inning, Piedmont broke open the game knocking three runs across the plate to take a 4-2 lead.

ABBY ATKINSON doubled to left center, then reached third after ALLYSON GENTRY hit a sacrifice bunt. ALLISON VAUGHN would send Atkinson home on a double to right center, then ABBY SMITH would put the exclamation mark on the inning as she knocked one out in right center driving in Vaughn to put PC up by two.

The Panthers would put one up in both the fourth and fifth innings while the Lady Lions would only put up one more run in the fifth. BECKA ROSS led the way in game one going 3-for-4 with a run while ABBY SMITH was 2-for-4 with a run scored and 2 RBI.

In game two, the Lady Lions' offense was unable to get going as the Panthers shutout Piedmont 4-0. Piedmont scattered six hits over the game with all six coming off a different batter.

All the Panthers runs came off long balls as Alyssa Statham hit a three-run homerun to center field driving in two others to put Birmingham Southern up 3-0 in the third inning. The third homer of the day for the Panthers came off the bat of Amanda Ballew as she hit a solo shot in the sixth for the final run of the game.

Freshman MORGAN SCHOLTZ got her first collegiate start as she lasted two and two-thirds innings giving up four hits, three earned runs and a walk. Schultz was relieved by AVERY MIGUES who finished the game giving up just two hits, a run, a walk and a strikeout.

Taylor Harkins got the win for the Panthers as she threw the complete game giving up six hits, one walk and five strikeouts.

Due to schedule changes because of the winter weather over the last week, Piedmont has added a doubleheader against Union College on Tuesday at 12 p.m. for the home opener at Walker Athletic Complex. Video coverage will be available through the Mane Event Broadcasting Network with live stats provided through the Piedmont Athletic Communications department.