NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 8, Covenant 1
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 10, Covenant 2 (F/6)
Records: Piedmont, 22-5 (10-0 USA South); Covenant, 9-18 (4-6 USA South)
 
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Piedmont College softball team extended its overall and conference win streak to 10 with a doubleheader sweep against Covenant on Tuesday afternoon in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
 
The Lady Lions (22-5, 10-0 USA South jumped out to an early lead to take game one, 8-1, before breaking the game open late in game two to win, 10-2, in six innings and complete the sweep.
 
Game 1: Piedmont 8, Covenant 1
 
The Lady Lions once again raced out to a hot start on offense, plating two runs in the top of the first as ANNA LEE STONE delivered a sacrifice fly and MADISON GARRETT drove in Hannah Horban on an RBI single.
 
After the Scots (9-18, 4-6 USA South) cut PC's lead in half with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, the Lady Lions responded by adding two more runs in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Piedmont starter MELISSA ECKMAN settled in after allowing a run in the first to throw six shutout innings the rest of the way to keep a comfortable lead for Piedmont.
 
The Lady Lions then broke the game open, scoring four times in the top of the fifth. MARIANN KENNISON got things started with an RBI double before scoring herself on Hoban's single. After a KATLYN ANDRIN sacrifice fly, HALEY MCCURRY's RBI single to right field gave PC an 8-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, which held the rest of the way.
 
Game 2: Piedmont 10, Covenant 1 (F/6)
 
Covenant struck for a single run in the first inning again to take a brief 1-0 lead.
 
However, the Lady Lions immediately answered in the top of the second, scoring three times to take the lead for good.
 
Andrin drove home Stone to start the scoring with an RBI single. DREW GRAHAM then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to bring home Garrett and give Piedmont a 2-1 lead before TK SAULS capped the three-run frame with an RBI single.
 
Already with a two-run lead, Kennison delivered a two-run shot to left field in the third to score Stegmayer and increase PC's lead to 5-1.
 
Covenant tacked on a single run in the bottom of the inning but the Lady Lions plated three more runs in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 8-2.
 
Then, in the top of the fifth, pitcher KORY BEST singled home a run for her first hit and RBI of the season to put Piedmont in front, 9-2.
 
KAYLEE WHITE added an RBI single to give Piedmont a 10-2 lead in the sixth, which it held in the bottom of the inning to conclude the sweep by the eight-run rule.
 
TURNING POINT:
- In game one, the Lady Lions scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings, which was more than enough for starting pitcher MELISSA ECKMAN, who threw a complete game, allowing just six hits and one run.
- After briefly falling behind by a run in game two, Piedmont roared back, scoring multiple runs in every inning from the second through the sixth on its way to a 10-2 six-inning win.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Left fielder MARIANN KENNISON tallied three hits and four RBI over the two games, including her fifth homer of the season in game two, tying HANNAH HOBAN for the team lead.
- Senior outfielder MADISON GARRETT went 5-for-8 over the two games, driving in and scoring a run in game one.
- REBEKAH STEGMAYER stole three more bases Tuesday and now sits just three away from breaking the single-season school record.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont's 10 wins in a row to begin the USA South season is the first time it has accomplished the feat since its record-breaking 43-win campaign in 2014.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The Lady Lions outhit the Scots, 26-10, over the two games, recording 13 hits in each contest.
 
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, and Facebook. To follow Piedmont Golf on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.