Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Rocky Mount, N.C. - The Lady Lions' path was difficult but the comeback kids were at it Friday after dropping their opening contest to William Peace and putting the rally caps to work in a walk-off victory against Ferrum in game two of the day. Piedmont lost the opening game to the Pacers 5-1 but came from behind in the seventh inning for a 4-3 win against the Panthers.

It was a bit of late inning heroics that lifted the Lady Lions to victory against Ferrum as ABBY SMITH scored a pair of RBI then was brought around on the game winning hit by ALLYSON GENTRY as Piedmont scored three runs to win after entering the bottom of the seventh trailing 3-1.

In game one the Pacers did their damage late in the game scoring their first runs in the fifth inning while in the Lady Lions' second game of the day it was their turn to come on strong late for the victory. SARAH WALKER pitched both contests for the Lady Lions with the loss in game one and the victory in game two to move her record to 13-9 this season.

Game one: William Peace 5, Piedmont 1

Piedmont scored first but the Pacers were too much to handle for the Lady Lions who dropped their opening contest in the USA South tournament 5-1. William Peace did their damage late in the contest as Piedmont held the lead through the first four innings.

The Lady Lions jumped out in front early on the #2 seed with a 1-0 lead in the second inning after both teams had sent just three batters to the plate in the first. ALLYSON GENTRY walked to lead off followed by a sacrifice bunt by fellow freshman BECKA ROSS and ALLISON VAUGHN hitting one up the middle to score Gentry, tallying an RBI for Vaughn.

The score remained 1-0 with only five combined hits through the top of the fifth inning but in the bottom of the fifth the Lady Lions gave up four runs on two hits and three errors to give the lead to William Peace 4-1. The Pacers would add a home run in the sixth to seal the game at 5-1.

SARAH WALKER pitched the complete game giving up only five hits but as many runs as well though only two were earned. Walker also did not walk a single batter and struck out one.

Leading the way at the plate for the Lady Lions was Vaughn as she was 1-for-3 and accounted for the sole RBI in the game as Piedmont was held to only five hits, scattered amongst five players.

Game two: Piedmont 4, Ferrum 3

The rally caps were put to work after entering the bottom of the seventh trailing 3-1, but the Lady Lions stirred up a little post-season magic to come back and win against Ferrum 4-3 on a walkoff single by freshman ALLYSON GENTRY.

The youngster came up clutch in the situation with ABBY SMITH sitting at second to score the game winning run for the Lady Lions and keep the season alive. To begin the hits in the inning, WHITNEY WOLFE doubled to left center, followed by ABBY ATKINSON hitting a single up the middle moving Wolfe around to third.

With the same situation and two outs on the board, Atkinson stole second to put the two runners in scoring position following by ABBY SMITH hitting a single scoring both Wolfe and Atkinson. Smith later stole second and the defining moment belonged to the newcomer Gentry.

The Panthers took the early lead scoring two in the top of the first and that was the score throughout much of the game until Piedmont tacked on a run to cut the lead in half in the fourth inning. BECKA ROSS hit a blast to left field with the solo shot one of only three hits for the Lady Lions to that point.

Ferrum added a single run in the top of the sixth but their three runs on six hits did not prove to be enough as the Lady Lions had four runs on nine hits with four of those nine hits coming in the seventh inning.

SARAH WALKER earned the win on the mound going the distance for Piedmont surrendering six hits, three runs and struck out five in the game. ABBY SMITH led the way at the plate going 2-for-3 against the Panthers with those two RBI in the seventh as well as her game-winning run scored.

Piedmont will be back in action at the USA South tournament Saturday morning facing the top seed Averett University at 10:00 a.m. LaGrange handed the nationally ranked squad a 3-2 loss in 11 innings Friday.