NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: BSC 4, Piedmont 3
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 7, BSC 5 (F/8)
Records: Piedmont, 8-3; BSC, 11-3
 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Piedmont College softball team split a doubleheader at Birmingham-Southern in its first road date of the season on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Lady Lions (8-3) dropped a 4-3 contest in game one before rallying to win, 7-5, in eight innings in game two.
 
Game 1: BSC 4, Piedmont 3
 
Piedmont jumped out to a fast start in game one, as REBEKAH STEGMAYER drew a leadoff walk, stole second and came around to score on HANNAH HOBAN's RBI triple.
 
However, the Panthers (11-3) answered back by putting up three runs in the bottom half of the inning against PC starter MELISSA ECKMAN.
 
The senior right-hander settled in after a rocky first, pitching the next five innings allowing just one more run to go with no walks and a season-best six strikeouts.
 
Stegmayer again helped the Lady Lions manufacture a run in the third, leading off the frame with a single before stealing second and coming around to score on an RBI groundout by Hoban.
 
Unfortunately, Birmingham-Southern added another run in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead.

Piedmont scored a single run in the fifth to cut its deficit to two, but BSC's Haley Crumpton slammed the door in seventh, retiring PC in order to close out the one-run win for the Panthers.
 
Game 2: Piedmont 7, BSC 5 (F/8)
 
After falling behind early in game one, the Lady Lions jumped in front, 2-0, on an RBI single from TK SAULS that sent KATLYN ANDRIN and DREW GRAHAM to the plate.
 
Piedmont starter MADISON WHITESIDE cruised through the first three innings before surrendering her first run in the third.
 
Then, with two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth, BSC's Kolyn Kyser struck for the go-ahead double, bringing home two runs and giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead heading to the top of the seventh.
 
However, the Lady Lions fought back, as RACHEL OBERHOLTZER and ANNA LEE STONE each singled to start the frame.
 
Pinch-running for Stone, LINSAY LINK came around to score the tying run on a wild pitch as Sauls drew a two-out walk.
 
With TAYLOR WARREN placed on second due to extra inning rules, the Lady Lions took advantage, plating four runs in the top of the eighth with RBI's from MARIANN KENNISON, Hoban and ANNA LEE STONE.
 
With the leadoff runner placed at second in the bottom of the inning, BSC immediately cut its deficit in half with a two-run shot from Savannah Lee. Then, after two more Panthers hitters singled, Eckman got the call from the bullpen and saved the game for PC, inducing a pop out and back-to-back strikeouts to close out Piedmont's eighth win of the season.
 
TURNING POINT:
- In game one, the Panthers plated three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first and held the lead the rest of the way.
- In game two, the Lady Lions led, 7-3, to begin the bottom of the eighth before BSC cut PC's lead to 7-5 with a two-run blast leading off the inning. After the tying run reached first base, MELISSA ECKMAN entered and retired the next three hitters to slam the door on the BSC rally.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- HANNAH HOBAN tied for the team lead with three RBI on the day while TK SAULS plated three runs in game two alone to set her season high.
- MELISSA ECKMAN retired the only three hitters she faced in game two, earning her second save of the season, both of which have come against the Panthers.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
- In Piedmont's two wins over BSC this season, it has been outhit a combined 22-8. However, the Panthers have made three errors while the Lady Lions have not made any in the two contests.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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