NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 0, Belhaven 8
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 3, Belhaven 7
Records: Piedmont, 14-13 (8-2 CCS); Belhaven, 28-4 (11-1 CCS)

JACKSON, Miss. - The Piedmont University softball team dropped both contests against the Blazers of Belhaven early Friday afternoon. Belhaven used a big fifth inning to end Game 1 before stopping a late Piedmont rally in the second game to take the win.

GAME 1 - Piedmont 0, Belhaven 8

Piedmont struggled offensively in the contest, posting just two hits off the Blazer's starter. Piedmont starter Megan Steinmeyer looked to be finding her rhythm early, allowing just two hits and stranding three through the first two innings.

Trouble began for the Lions in the bottom of the third. A pair of walks put runners on with just one gone in the inning and the Blazers took full advantage. Back-to-back singles plated the first runs of the game and signaled that the Belhaven offense was coming to life. Piedmont had a chance to respond in the top of the fourth but left a pair of runners stranded in scoring position.

The Blazers added a third run in the bottom of the fourth with a two out double and poured on the offense in the bottom of the fifth. Scoring five runs in the inning, the Piedmont bullpen remained unable to get the Lions out of the inning and an eighth run for Belhaven ended the game via run rule.

The Lions offense struggled against Belhaven ace Kennedy Carruth, who allowed just two hits in five innings.

GAME 2 - Piedmont 3, Belhaven 7

Belhaven once again jumped out in front early, scoring six runners in the second inning off the Piedmont starter. A lead off home run, a double and a defensive mistake from the Lions gave the Blazers a 2-0 lead. The damage did not stop there as a one-out single to right field scored two more runs. Then, just as it looked like the Lions had stopped the bleeding, a two-run home run made it 6-0.

After tacking on a seventh run in the home half of the third, Belhaven looked poised to coast to another run rule win. Piedmont had other plans, beginning to battle back into the contest. Freshman Maddi Spieks led off the home half of the fourth with a double and advanced to third shortly after on a wild pitch. Senior Kara Taylor took advantage of the situation, launching an RBI sac fly to right field for the first run of the game.

The Lions offense continued to rally back into the contest in the top of the sixth. Spieks once again led off with a base knock and senior Kaitlin Isley followed with a double to right. With runners on second and third, Taylor once again took advantage and blasted a two RBI double to center. With Taylor on second and no one down, junior Jasmine Lowery singled to center and put runners on the corners. Piedmont appeared set to score even more in the inning but a call to the bullpen saw the Blazers ace return to the mound and end the inning. 

The offense remained unable to restart any momentum after the sixth inning, recording just one more hit in the game as the contest closed 7-3 in favor of Belhaven.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Belhaven took Game 1 in a five inning run rule.
--Piedmont hitters struck out a combined 21 times.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Kara Taylor had all three of the Piedmont RBI in the second game.
--Riley Ford allowed just 3 hits and 0 runs while striking out 5 in four innings of relief work in Game 2.
--Maddi Spieks went 2-4 with 2 runs in Game 2.
--Jasmine Lowery went 2-3 in Game 2.

UP NEXT:
--Piedmont welcomes a nationally ranked Berry team to Demorest on Tuesday, April 9.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on X: @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