NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 5, LaGrange 1
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 6, LaGrange 0
Records: Piedmont, 16-15 (10-4 CCS); LaGrange, 11-27 (5-10 CCS)
DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont University softball team snapped a four game losing streak with a Sunday afternoon sweep over the Panthers of LaGrange. The Lions scored in five different innings in Game 1 before using multiple big innings in the second game to take the win.
GAME 1 - Piedmont 5, LaGrange 1
Piedmont quickly jumped out to a lead against the Panthers in the first contest of the day. Lead off batter
Kara Taylor singled through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch shortly after. With one out in the inning, senior
Kaitlin Isley punched an RBI single to center for the first run of the game.
After a defensive miscue from LaGrange in the bottom of the second that allowed another run to score, Piedmont once again struck in the third. A two-out single from junior
Jasmine Lowery pushed the the Lions lead to 3-0 heading into the fourth.
Starter
Megan Steinmeyer was lights out through the first three frames, carrying a perfect game into the fourth. However, the Panthers finally cracked the code in the fourth, recording their first two hits of the game.
The offense continued to scrape across runs in the middle innings. Singular runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth gave the Lions a 5-0 edge as they looked to close out strong. LaGrange threatened in their final frame, finally pushing across a run and chasing Steinmeyer from the circle. Piedmont turned to freshman
Summer McCranie out of the pen, who entered the game and struck out the next two batters to record the save. Steinmeyer finished with just six hits and one run given up while striking out five.
GAME 2 - Piedmont 6, LaGrange 0
The Lions offense continued with their momentum from Game 1, putting up runners early once again. Batting lead off once again, Taylor walked to open the game and scored two batters later on an Isley single. Lowery and Steinmeyer followed with singles of their own as lead moved to 2-0. The offense then traded an out for a run with freshman
Jordyn Green receiving the RBI on a sac bunt.
Trailing 3-0, a pair of walks in the top of the second gave the Panthers hope they could respond quickly. However, outfielder
Kennedy Votava cut down a would-be run at the plate after a fly out to left to end the inning on the double play.
Piedmont once again struck for three runs, this time in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back bunt singles from Votava and Isley put two on with no one out. Lowery took full advantage with an RBI double scoring Votava and Isley after an error in the field. A few batters later, Lowery took matters into her own hands, stealing home for the sixth run of the game.
McCranie was dominant in Game 2, allowing no runs on three hits in 5.2 innings of work. She worked her way out of multiple jams and held the Panthers at bay on the way to a 6-0 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Piedmont out hit the Panthers 23-9 on the day.
--LaGrange allowed just one free base across 12 innings.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
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Summer McCranie worked 6.1 total innings in relief, allowing 0 runs and just 3 hits while striking out 4.
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Kaitlin Isley went 5-6 with 3 runs scored, 2 RBI and a stolen base across the doubleheader.
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Jasmine Lowery went 5-6 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in the doubleheader.
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Jordyn Green went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI in Game 1.
UP NEXT:
--Piedmont welcomes an extremely tough challenge in #5 Berry to Demorest for a doubleheader on Thursday, April 18.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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