NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: George Fox 1, (# 14) Piedmont 0
Game 2 Score: (#17) Berry 10, (#14) Piedmont 4
Records: Piedmont 0-2; George Fox 5-1; Berry 2-2
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The 14^th-ranked Piedmont University softball team got its 2022 season started on Saturday with a pair of games against two stout opponents as the Lions dropped both contests to start the season 0-2.
 
The Lady Lions came out on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel in game one, falling just 1-0 to the George Fox Bruins before getting beat 10-4 in game two by the 17^th-ranked Berry Vikings.
 
Early season struggles are not new to Piedmont after the Lady Lions started the 2021 season 0-2 with losses to a pair of ranked teams, including a top-10 Berry team. Piedmont would end the 2021 season at 25-13 overall after a deep run in its NCAA Regional Tournament.
 
Game 1 – George Fox 1, Piedmont 0
 
Piedmont starter MARTINA MALOCH and George Fox starter Ashley Davis were both at peak performance in game one as the two each pitched to their strengths for seven innings in game one.
 
Davis allowed just two Piedmont hits en route to the win, improving her record to 3-0 in her three starts. Both of those Piedmont hits came in the first two innings as Davis retired 17 straight hitters to close out the game.
 
Maloch, the reigning Pitcher of the Year in the USA South and Piedmont's ace, was just as strong as Davis in the game. The Locust Grove native allowed seven hits, all singles, and just one earned run that proved to be the game-winner in the fifth inning.
 
After a leadoff single and sacrifice bunt, Kamryn Potter delivered a two-out RBI single to score pinch-runner Maclairen Magruder from second base. That proved to be the only run Davis and Bruins' defense needed to start the Piedmont Classic with a win.
 
Game 2 – Berry 10, Piedmont 4
 
Piedmont's second game saw a lot more offense than did game one. However, much of that was in favor of the Vikings.
 
No. 17 Berry was fresh off getting shutout by the George Fox Bruins themselves, and the Vikings wasted no time getting the bats going in their second game. The Vikings hung four runs on the board in the top of the first inning and added another in the second to take command of the game from the jump.
 
Piedmont's freshman starter MEGAN STEINMEYER would settle in for a while after that, but later found herself in trouble again as the Vikings would plate five runs against her in the top of the fifth to extend their led to 10-2.
 
Steinmeyer was relieved by sophomore transfer FAITH VENTO in the fifth but would finish with a final line that included 10 runs (7 earned) on 12 hits in her 4.1 innings.
 
Piedmont would plate four runs in the contest, the first four of the 2022 season, but the Lions never got more than one run across in an inning as they scored in each the first, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
 - Despite getting the loss, MARTINA MALOCH was dazzling in game one as she allowed just one earned run and struck out seven hitters in her first outing of the season.
- REBEKAH STEGMAYER proved her worth in the leadoff spot for Piedmont as she scored three of the team's four runs in game two, each of which came after she got on base to lead off an inning.
- FAITH VENTO allowed just one hit and zero runs in her 2.2 innings of relief in her Piedmont pitching debut.
 
UP NEXT:
-The Piedmont Classic continues tomorrow with three more games, starting with Piedmont and George Fox at 10:00 a.m. at the Walker Athletic Complex.
 
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.