NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 5, N.C. Wesleyan 2
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 1, N.C. Wesleyan 4
Records: Piedmont, 4-11; N.C. Wesleyan, 6-3

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Piedmont University softball program split their doubleheader action against the Battling Bishops of N.C. Wesleyan. Piedmont was initially scheduled to participate in the William Peace Triangle Classic, but instead faced the Battling Bishops at home, taking the win in the first game of the day. 

GAME 1 - Piedmont 5, N.C. Wesleyan 2

Piedmont struck first in the top half of the first. With two on and one out, junior Jasmine Lowery reached on an error by the Battling Bishops' pitcher, scoring junior Heartly Nepveux who reached earlier in the inning on a fielder's choice.

The lead was short lived as N.C. Wesleyan leveled the contest in the home half of the third. After the lead-off batter singled, the Battling Bishops used a sacrifice bunt and a ground out to move the runner to third. With two gone, a single to left pushed the tying run across the plate. 

The Lions immediately got the lead back in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs in the inning. Sophomore Kennedy Votava led off the inning with a single and stole second directly after. After reaching third later in the inning, a Nepveux infield single put runners on the corners for senior Kara Taylor. Sending one into right field, the RBI single from Taylor scored the first run of the inning. Junior Megan Steinmeyer plated the final two runs of the inning with a two-out single to center as Piedmont claimed a 4-1 lead.

Piedmont added an insurance run in the top of the fifth before N.C. Wesleyan threatened a comeback in the sixth but were only able to score one. The contest closed 5-2 in favor of the Lions with Steinmeyer receiving the win after throwing all seven innings.

GAME 2 - Piedmont 1, N.C. Wesleyan 4

The Battling Bishops opened the second contest of the day in a big way. Now acting as the visiting team, they plated three runs in the top of the first inning. Using a pair of hits, a walk and two wild pitches, N.C. Wesleyan forced the Lions to go to the pin to escape the inning.

Trailing 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Piedmont attempted to force themselves back into the contest. A pair of singles and an error loaded the bases for Maddi Spieks with just one away. Spieks launched a sacrifice fly into right, scoring the first run of the game for her team. A Nepveux walk in the next at-bat loaded the bases again in the inning and put the tying run on first. However, the Lions were unable to make anything of the opportunity, only scoring the one run in the frame.

The Lions brought the tying run to the plate in the final frame but remained unable to mount the comeback. The contest concluded 4-1 in favor of the Battling Bishops.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-- Megan Steinmeyer threw a complete game in Game 1, allowing just 2 earned runs on 7 hits.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-- Megan Steinmeyer went 1-2 from the plate with 2 RBIs in Game 1.
-- Kara Taylor went 1-3 with a walk and an RBI in Game 1.
-- Hannah Cintron went 2-3 with a walk and a run scored in Game 1.

UP NEXT:
--Piedmont prepares to open CCS play on the road, traveling to Berea on Sunday, March 17.

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