NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1: Piedmont 6, Mt. St. Joseph 5 F/8
Game 2: Piedmont 12, Belhaven 5
Record: Piedmont 3-3
 
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The Piedmont College softball team swept a pair of contests Sunday to close out their Birmingham trip with a 6-5 win over Mt. St. Joseph in extra innings and a dominant 12-5 win over Belhaven. 

Game 1: Piedmont 6, Mt. St. Joseph 5 F/8

Game one took extras to decide as the two were knotted at five after seven innings. In the eighth, Mt. St. Joseph threatened with a runner on third with two outs, but ultimately was unable to convert. 

With the international tie break in place, TAYLOR BUCKNER was placed on second to start Piedmont's half with HANNAH SMITH at the plate. Smith connected on a bunt single to put runners at the corners. Smith stole second while MACKENZIE DAVIS was at the plate and Davis was intentionally walked. 

Now with the bases loaded and one out, KARA TAYLOR came to the plate and drove one out to center field sending around the only run needed to end the game and claim the victory. 

The Lady Lions had a big inning in the second inning of the game scoring three runs on three hits with TK SAULS driving in the first run of the game for Piedmont. The Lady Lions were trailing 2-0 at that point after a home run in the first inning for Mt. St. Joseph. Sauls had an RBI single, stole second and DREW GRAHAM drove in the next run to tie the game. 

Sauls eventually scored in the inning on the final play as she stole home while TAYLOR BUCKNER danced around between first and second before eventually being picked off. 

Three Lady Lions saw action in the circle as SHAYLEN SUTTON started but was replaced by MARTINA MALOCH early after the home run in the first inning. Maloch pitched 6.1 innings allowing three runs, none earned, before EMMA MCBRAYER closed out the game in the eighth inning. 

Game 2: Piedmont 12, Belhaven 5

The Lady Lions' bats were roaring Sunday with 12 runs on 10 hits and eight walks. The scoring started early against Belhaven with a run in the first as HANNAH SMITH scored on a wild pitch. 

The Blazers tied the game in the second inning 1-1, but that was the closest Piedmont would allow them. In the third inning, Piedmont scored six runs started by a 3-run home run by KARA TAYLOR. That marked Taylor's first home run as a Lady Lion. 

TK SAULS used a bunt groundout to pick up an RBI and REBEKAH STEGMAYER and HANNAH SMITH singled in the final two runs of the frame. The Blazers added one each in the fourth and fifth innings before tacking on two in the sixth. 

The Lady Lions continued to work offensively and had another big performance in the top of the seventh with four runs on three hits and four errors for Belhaven. 

EMMA MCBRAYER earned her second win of the day working in relief pitching 4.1 innings allowing two hits and three earned runs. 

TURNING POINT:
--It was a walk-off win for the Lady Lions in game one with KARA TAYLOR sending one out to center field to drive in the game-winner. 
--Piedmont had a six-run third inning in game two with six runs on five hits including a 3-run home run by Taylor. 
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--KARA TAYLOR was electric going 4-of-8 with five RBI on the day and hit her first collegiate home run. 
--EMMA MCBRAYER earned both wins after coming in to close game one and working in relief in game two. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Mt. St. Joseph's five runs came off one bat as Ivers had a pair of home runs and all five RBI in the game. 
--The Lady Lions totaled 17 hits in the two games with an impressive offensive output. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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