Need to Know
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 1, Birmingham-Southern 9 (F-6)
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 9, Birmingham-Southern 1 (F-5)
Records: Lady Lions 1-1, Panthers 4-2
Location: Demorest, Georgia - Walker Athletic Complex

Demorest, GA - The Piedmont College softball team traded 9-1 results on Sunday afternoon with Birmingham-Southern College in a home doubleheader to open up the season as BSC came away with a win in game one before Piedmont rallied to win game two.

In the opener, it was all Panthers as the visitors scored three runs in both the first and third innings to set the tone with BSC pitcher Taylor Harkins throwing well in the circle.  Harkins finished with a six-inning, five-hit line giving up just one run as the Lady Lions struggled to get runners on in the 9-1 game one loss. 

It was not the same case in game two as Piedmont took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a JESSICA BAGWELL double down the left field line before PC doubled the lead in the 2nd on another 2-RBI base hit just inside 3rd, this time by AUDREY ESAKOFF.  

With a 4-0 lead after two, BSC and PC would each get one run in the next few innings before Piedmont held a 5-1 lead headed into the 5th.  After the Panthers ended game one early with a 8-run lead in the 6th, it was Piedmont's turn in game two as the Lady Lions scored four in the 5th inning to post their own 8-run lead for an early exit.

Sparking the 5th inning explosion was ALLISON VAUGHN's RBI single up the middle, part of a 3-for-3 showing in game two for Vaughn.  Then it was ALLYSON GENTRY's 2-RBI single up the middle and LAURA CARTER's RBI double to right that gave Piedmont all it needed for the split winning game two 9-1.

SARAH WALKER got the win in game two throwing well with two hits scattered over five innings of work as the junior gave up just one run in the outing.

Turning Point
--Piedmont's offense exploded in game two to salvage the split as LAURA CARTER's RBI double in the bottom of the 5th ended the game early with PC winning 9-1. 

Standout Performances
--Freshman SYDNEY KINARD was 4-for-6 overall including a 3-for-3 debut in her first game as a Lady Lion as she scored a run and accounted for an RBI as well.
--ALLISON VAUGHN was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI going 3-for-3 in game two of the doubleheader.
--SARAH WALKER allowed just two hits in five innings of work for a win in the circle in game two, her first start of 2016.

Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont's 5th inning, 4-run output in game two was key as the Lady Lions were ahead already, but rain had just started to fall in Demorest threatening a possible delay before PC was able to get the four runs across to end the game early invoking the 8-run rule.

News & Notes
--These two teams have met for a doubleheader in each of the last three seasons with Piedmont posting a 4-2 record against the Panthers in that time. 

Up Next
Piedmont heads to Raleigh for the Grand Slam tournament this coming weekend before hitting the road to open up conference play at Covenant College on March 5 in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

How to Follow
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