Need to Know
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 4, BSC 3 F/8
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 1, BSC 0
Records: Lady Lions 2-2, Tigers 2-0
Location: Birmingham, Alabama - Birmingham-Southern

Birmingham, AL  - The Piedmont College softball team picked up two big victories Saturday taking down Birmingham-Southern College, NFCA Preseason #13 5-4 in eight innings and 1-0 in game two. The Lady Lions came from behind in game one to win in extras while Eckman's stellar pitching from the circle sealed the victory in game two. 

The Lady Lions struck first in game one against the Panthers scoring a run in the second inning after a pair of walks, a single, and an error. In the third inning, the Lady Lions again tacked on another run with ALEXIS OWENS scoring on an illegal pitch. 

Piedmont carried a 2-0 lead through the top of the fourth, but in the bottom of the frame, the Panthers added a run to cut the lead in half. The Panthers would then take the lead scoring a pair in the bottom of the fifth on three hits and one error to lead 3-2. Piedmont answered in the following half inning as HALEY HIXON fouled out to right field scoring HALEY MCCURRY to tie the game.

It would take extras but the Lady Lions would get the job done in the eighth inning as AUDREY ESAKOFF hit a single to score JESSICA BAGWELL and SARAH WALKER closed out the contest by securing a pair of strikeouts. Walker earned her first victory of the season tossing eight innings and allowing just one earned run and struck out four. 

Game two was fairly quiet as it was a pitcher's dual that MELISSA ECKMAN won giving up just five hits, walking one and striking out three. The Lady Lions scored the game-winner in the sixth inning as Bagwell drove in ALLYSON GENTRY after Gentry singled to open the inning. 

Turning Point
--It took extra innings but the Lady Lions outlasted the Panthers with AUDREY ESAKOFF hitting a single to score JESSICA BAGWELL in the top of the eighth.
--In Game 2, it was Bagwell that drove in the winning run in the sixth inning scoring ALLYSON GENTRY in a 1-0 victory. 

Standout Performances
--HANNAH HOBAN was 4-for-4 in the first contest and was 5-for-7 on the day.
--AUDREY ESAKOFF was 2-for-3 in game one including the game-winning single to score Bagwell in the top of the eighth. 

Inside the Box Score
--Piedmont used just two pitchers, the starters of each game, while Birmingham-Southern used three pitchers in each contest. 

News & Notes
--The Panthers were the preseason #13 team in the NFCA poll released earlier this spring. 

Up Next
--A trip to Berry College is on the slate for Sunday with first pitch of the doubleheader coming at 1:00 p.m. 

How to Follow
To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, Snapchat: @PiedmontLions and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.