NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: N.C. Wesleyan 2, Piedmont 1
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 5, N.C. Wesleyan 4
Records: Piedmont, 3-2; N.C. Wesleyan, 2-3
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont College softball team took a back-and-forth game two to split a doubleheader with N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at the Walker Athletic Complex.
 
The Lady Lions' (3-2) bats were held silent in a 2-1 loss in game one before bouncing back with a 5-4 comeback win in game 2.
 
Game 1: N.C. Wesleyan 2, Piedmont 1
In a low-scoring game one, Piedmont allowed a pair of runs in the first inning to put themselves in a quick hole.
 
However, PC answered back with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame courtesy of a two-out double by HANNAH HOBAN and an RBI triple to right from KAYLEE WHITE.
 
After allowing the two runs in the first, Piedmont starting pitcher MELISSA ECKMAN settled in and fired six shutout innings the rest of the way, allowing just four hits and striking out two without a walk.
 
Unfortunately for the Lady Lions, Battling Bishops (2-3) starter Beth Braswell was sharp all game, pitching seven innings while allowing just four hits and striking out seven Piedmont batters.
 
PC consistently threatened throughout the game, but were unable to bring across the tying run, leaving five runners on base for the contest.
 
Game 2: Piedmont 5, N.C. Wesleyan 4
 
Game two got off to an inauspicious start for the Lady Lions, as N.C. Wesleyan scored a run on three hits to establish an early lead on Piedmont starter MADISON WHITESIDE.
 
PC began its half of the first with a pair of free passes before HANNAH HOBAN advanced REBEKAH STEGMAYER and MARIANN KENNISON to third and second. After RACHEL OBERHOLTZER knotted the score at 1-1 on an RBI groundout, TAYLOR BROWN delivered her first collegiate hit, giving the Lady Lions a 2-1 lead after an inning.
 
The Battling Bishops evened the score on Nichole Mooney's solo homer with one out on the top of the third. 
 
 After KATLYN ANDRIN began the fourth with a sharp grounder to shortstop that was misplayed, the freshman infielder was able to steal both second and third base and came home with the go-ahead run on DREW GRAHAM's RBI single up the middle.
 
Unfortunately, the Lady Lions gave up the lead thanks to a two-out error on an infield pop-up in the top half of the fifth inning allowed N.C. Wesleyan to score the tying run. One batter later, the Battling Bishops took a 4-3 lead on Brianna Myers' line-drive single to left field that forced Whiteside from the game.
 
KORY BEST entered and, after walking the first hitter she faced, escaped further damage by leaving the bases loaded as Kennison tracked down a deep fly ball in left-center field.
 
However, the Lady Lions answered back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Stegmayer drew a leadoff walk, stole third and came home to score the tying run on the wild pitch.
 
After Kennison was tagged out in a rundown between third and home attempting to score the go-ahead run, Brown reached on a throwing error, giving the Lady Lions the lead once again.
 
From there, Best retired six of the final seven hitters she faced to earn the victory and improve the Lady Lions' record to 3-2.
 
Up next, Piedmont will play another home doubleheader on Sunday, with games slated for 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. due to impending rain in the afternoon.
 
TURNING POINT:
- In game one, it was a pair of runs in the top of the first by N.C. Wesleyan that stood the rest of the way as PC fell, 2-1, thanks to a strong pitching performance by Battling Bishops starter Beth Braswell.
- In game two, there were three lead changes, with neither side ever holding more than a one-run advantage. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Lions took advantage of a walk, a wild pitch and a throwing error to plate the eventual winning runs.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Freshman center fielder REBEKAH STEGMAYER reached base in all four plate appearances of game two, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
- Best earned her first win of the season, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings and stranding the bases loaded after she entered for Whiteside in the top of the fifth.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Lions took game two despite being outhit, 10-6, by the Battling Bishops. This marks the team's second-straight win while having fewer hits than their opponent. 

NEWS AND NOTES:
- Each of Piedmont's five games this season have been decided by one or two runs.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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