Danville, VA - The Lady Lion softball team took on the top team in the USA South, #16 Averett University, but the Cougars proved why they've only lost a single contest all season taking both games of the doubleheader. Piedmont could not keep pace with the Cougars in game one in a 10-7 loss while game two was a 5-1 decision.

The Lady Lions led once all day as they took a 7-6 lead in the fifth during game one, but a late comeback by the Cougars erased that lead. In game two, the offense struggled to get going until late in the game as Piedmont scored their only run in the top of the fifth.

LAURA CARTER had one of the more impressive days offensively going 2-for-4 in game one with a pair of RBI and a run scored while batting .500 in game two as well at 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. The Lady Lions had 11 hits in game one but only managed five in game two.

Game one: Averett 10, Piedmont 7

The Lady Lions kept it close against #16 Averett University with a one-run lead after five innings, but the Cougars pulled away late to take game one 10-7. The Cougars led by as many as four in the contest but Piedmont continued to fight.

Averett took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Piedmont responded in the top of the frame as BECKA ROSS reached on an error and eventually scored on a WHITNEY WOLFE single up the middle to cut it to 3-1.

In the bottom of the second, however, the Cougars would put up a two spot as three singles loaded the bases and one more would unload two of the runners stretching it to a 5-1 lead for Averett. The Lady Lions were not backing down though as they too put up two runs in the top of the third as LAURA CARTER and ABBY SMITH scored.

The Cougars only sent four batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning, which left the Lady Lions' bats still burning from the previous frame. In the top of the fourth, Piedmont cut it to a one-score game as Atkinson reached on an error and scored as ABBY SMITH reached on an error with a total of three errors in the inning.

Averett would score a single run in the bottom of the fourth to lead 6-4, but the Lady Lions again had a big inning in the fifth scoring three runs and taking the lead. Ross walked to lead-off and later scored as LAUREN BEARDEN reached on an error.

WHITNEY WOLFE singled to right field and Atkinson reached on a fielder's choice with both crossing home when Carter singled to left center putting the Lady Lions on top 7-6. That lead would last until the bottom of the sixth when the Cougars scored four runs on four hits to make it 10-7 which would be the final score.

Wolfe led the way going 3-for-4 in the contest with an RBI and a run scored while both BRITTANY FUTRAL and LAURA CARTER were 2-for-4 with Carter adding a pair of RBI as well.

Game two: Averett 5, Piedmont 1

Piedmont followed up their close call with the Cougars with a tough loss in game two as the Cougars jumped out to an early lead in the first and never let up in a 5-1 loss for the Lady Lions. Averett scored all five of their runs by the third inning but Piedmont was only able to answer with a lone run in the top of the fifth.

LAUREN BEARDEN earned the start for Piedmont and went two innings before giving way to SARAH WALKER. Bearden surrendered six hits and five runs but did force the Cougars into a three-up, three-down inning in the second.

The Cougars picked up where they left off offensively in game two as they scored three in the first on four hits, scoring twice before the first out was recorded. BECKA ROSS led off with a single but was unable to advance in the top of the second.

Averett added on two more runs in the bottom of the third on three hits and an error to move the score to 5-0. Piedmont only had two hits until the fifth inning when they saw a lead-off single by WHITNEY WOLFE, then HAYDEN SAVAGE entered as a pinch runner. Savage scored following a sacrifice bunt by ABBY ATKINSON, a LAURA CARTER walk and a pair of fielder's choices.

The Lady Lions have just one more doubleheader remaining in the regular season with a pair of contests against Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia on Wednesday. The timing of those games has yet to be determined but fans are encouraged to stay up to date on schedule changes through PiedmontLions.com.