NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Salem 4, Piedmont 1
Records: Salem, 24-15; Piedmont, 29-9
 
LaGRANGE, Ga. – The Piedmont College softball team fell, 4-1, to Salem in its first game at the USA South Spring Festival in LaGrange on Friday morning.
 
The loss puts the Lady Lions (29-9) into a must-win situation tomorrow, with one more loss eliminating them from the tournament.
 
The Spirits (24-15) used an outstanding pitching to shut down Piedmont's offense, scoring two runs in the third inning that held up the rest of the way.
 
After each team was held off the scoreboard through the first two innings, Salem pitcher Miranda Barker gave herself a 2-0 lead with an RBI double to left field that brought home two runs.
 
The Lady Lions responded immediately in the bottom of the inning, cutting its deficit in half on HANNAH HOBAN's RBI single that scored MARIANN KENNISON.
 
However, Barker settled in from there, holding PC scoreless through her final four innings of work.
 
The Spirits added single runs of insurance in the fifth and the sixth to give Barker three runs to work with over the final two innings.
 
With the loss, Piedmont will now take on Averett in an elimination game on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Shuford Softball Complex in LaGrange.
 
TURNING POINT:
- Salem's Miranda Barker hit a third-inning two-run home run that proved to be all that the Spirits needed in the 4-1 victory.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- HANNAH HOBAN and MADISON GARRETT each recorded two hits, with Hoban picking up PC's lone RBI of the day.
 
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 each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.