NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 4, Pfeiffer 1
Game 2 Score: Mount St. Joseph 10, Piedmont 2 F/5
Records: Piedmont, 2-4; Pfeiffer, 1-3; Mount St. Joseph, 2-2
 

DEMOREST, Ga. — Piedmont softball earned a split on Saturday afternoon, picking up a win against Pfeiffer and falling in their first contest against Mount St. Joseph.

Jacy Vickery once again delivered a gem for the Lions while the offense took advantage of their opponent's mistakes.

Game 1: Piedmont 4, Pfeiffer 1

Unlike their previous meetings, the Falcons would not be the first on the board in this contest, as Jacy Vickery set down the Pfeiffer lineup through three innings, giving the offense a clean slate to work with.

In the third inning, Bailee Davis set the table for the top of the lineup with a one-out single, and Maddi Spieks would follow suit with a single of her own, putting the bat in the hands of Anslee Sauchegraw. Sauchegraw put the ball in play, forcing Pfeiffer's hand as Charly Cooper for the Falcons overthrew her first baseman, allowing Davis to come home, plating the Lions' first run. Piedmont wouldn't be done there, as they would once again take advantage of the Pfeiffer defense, as after Valerie Bailey walked, she would bluff a steal of second, giving Sauchegraw a chance to steal home and give the Lions a 2-0 lead.

Jacy Vickery, now pitching with the lead, would shut down the Falcons for the next two innings, while her counterpart for Pfeiffer did the same to the Lions' lineup.

In the fifth, the Falcons would put runners on the corners thanks to a double and single to start the inning. Pfeiffer would cut the Lions' lead in half with an RBI single, but Vickery's tenacity led her through the traffic as she allowed just one run to score. 

Piedmont would help out their pitcher in the bottom half of the inning. With runners on first and second, Ellie Lenz lined a single, bringing home Bailee Davis and widening the Lions' lead. Piedmont wouldn't stop there as they executed another great show of base running. Piedmont looked to swipe second, and the Pfeiffer catcher's throw was sent into center field, allowing Sauchegraw to come home and score the Lions' fourth run.

With a 4-1 lead in her pocket, Jacy Vickery would lead the Lions the rest of the way as she shut down the Falcons and picked up Piedmont's second win of the season by a final score of 4-1.

Game 2: Mount St. Joseph 10, Piedmont 2 F/5

The Lions of Mount St. Joseph would announce themselves to Piedmont with a big win in run-rule fashion.

Taylor Spivey pitched well for the Lions through the first three innings, allowing just one run to come across through those frames.

Piedmont would score their only runs of the game in the first inning with a Valerie Bailey RBI single and more base-running savvy.

Spivey ran into trouble in the fourth inning, where she would allow three runs and could not find the final out. Maile Dunn came on in relief and was able to get the Lions out of the inning, but not without Mount St. Joseph stealing the lead away, making it a 4-2 ballgame.

The first batter of the fifth inning would reach via a walk for Mount St. Joseph, leading to Jalyn McGee entering the contest. Mount St. Joseph would open the floodgates in the inning, bringing home six runs and growing their lead to 10-2.

The Lions would threaten but would be unable to answer in the bottom half as Mount St. Joseph would come away with a victory.

Piedmont will be back in action on Sunday, March 1, in doubleheader fashion against Mount St. Joseph, with game one set for 11 a.m. and game two set for 1 p.m.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Jacy Vickery had another complete game for the Lions to pick up her second win of the season.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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