NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 11, Covenant 2 (F/5)
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 9, Covenant 2 (F/5)
Records: Piedmont, 14-8 (9-1 USAS); Covenant, 16-16 (5-5 USAS)
 
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Piedmont College's softball team cruised to yet another doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon, this time over the Covenant Scots, improving the Lady Lions to 9-1 in conference play.
 
Piedmont dominated game one and finished off the Scots 11-2 in just five innings, which was the third straight game the Lady Lions claimed via the eight-run mercy rule. They followed that performance up with nine more runs in game two to claim a 9-2 victory.
 
Runs came early and often once again as the Lady Lions scored at least one run in each inning of game one. EMMA MCBRAYER started the scoring with an RBI sac fly in the first inning that scored KAITLIN ISLEY after her one-out triple.
 
Piedmont added another run in the second on an RBI single from REBEKAH STEGMAYER, then opened up to a six-run lead thanks to four more runs in the top of the third inning. HANNAH SMITH's two-RBI single was the big play in the inning, and she later scored on a double steal with TK SAULS.
 
Smith's big day was just getting started as she added two more RBIs in the top of the fourth inning on an inside-the-park home run, the first of her career. Smith roped a ball to right field, where the Scots had left vacant while playing a shift, and scored standing to beat the throw at home.
 
Piedmont plated two more before allowing a pair of runs from Covenant in the bottom of the fifth to close out game one. SHAYLEN SUTTON pitched the final two innings in relief of the winner McBrayer as the two combined to allow just six hits while striking out four.
 
Game two started fast again for Piedmont as KATELYN PERRY singled home Stegmayer in the top of the first, but the Lady Lions went scoreless in their next two innings leading into the fourth.
 
Piedmont got a run home in the fourth on another Smith RBI, then broke out again for four runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-0 lead. Both KAYLEE WHITE and KARA TAYLOR sent two-RBI doubles to the left centerfield gap in the big fifth inning.
 
The Lady Lions scored twice more in the sixth on RBIs from Sauls and Isley and got one more run home in the seventh on an RBI hit from Taylor to put the finishing touches on the game two victory.
 
Piedmont starter MARTINA MALOCH allowed one Covenant run in the sixth before giving way to MADISON WHITESIDE in the seventh. Whiteside allowed one unearned run in her lone inning of work as the duo combined to allow just six hits and one earned run while striking out five Scots hitters.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- HANNAH SMITH totaled five RBIs on the day, including four in game one. Smith notched two hits, including an inside-the-park home run, scored three runs, and stole home on the day.
- REBEKAH STEGMAYER went 3-for-7 on the day and contributed two runs and two RBIs.
- KARA TAYLOR went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader (3-for-3 in game two) while notching three RBIs and scoring a run.
 
UP NEXT:
- Piedmont is on the road again next Friday as the Lady Lions travel to Macon, Georgia to take on the Wesleyan Wolves on April 23. First pitch for game one is slated for 1:00 p.m.  
 
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.