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

DEMOREST, Ga. — Piedmont finished its weekend action against Mount St. Joseph, earning a split on the day.

The offense was swinging the bats well against Mount St. Joseph as they stayed consistent to pick up the win in game one.

Game 1: Piedmont 5, Mount St. Joseph 4

With Jacy Vickery once again in the circle for the Lions, Piedmont would look to support her with the bats.

The Lions got out to a hot start, as in the bottom of the first inning they put runners on for the Mount St. Joseph pitcher, and Ellie Lenz cashed in, bringing home a run and giving the Lions the early lead.

Vickery cruised through the top half of the order before running into trouble against Mount St. Joseph's 7-9 hitters. The Lions of MSJ would reach via a hit and error by the Piedmont defense, putting two on for Avery Wiltermood. Wiltermood put a ball down the left field line, bringing home a run, but another error committed by Piedmont led to one more run crossing the plate for Mount St. Joseph. Vickery found the final two outs of the inning and limited the damage to two.

With the game tied, the offense for Piedmont went to work

In the bottom of the third, Maddi Spieks led off with a double, followed by an Anslee Sauchegraw walk, forcing Mount St. Joseph into a pitching change. With two runners on and a new pitcher to contend with, Valerie Bailey pulled a ball into the left-center gap, scoring both runners and giving Piedmont the lead once more and putting herself on third base. Ellie Lenz would come through once again as she brought home Bailey on a sacrifice fly. With the Lions ahead now 5-2, Vickery would go to work, looking to hold the lead.

In the fifth, Mount St. Joseph built another rally as a two-RBI double cut Piedmont's lead down to 5-4. Vickery would stop the scoring there for Mount St. Joseph, but the rest of the way she would have a one-run lead to protect.

The Lions offense wouldn't get anything across in the sixth to grow their lead, setting up Vickery in the seventh to protect the lead.

The seventh was smooth sailing for Vickery with the exception of a one-out walk, but the Piedmont hurler stood strong and delivered her third complete game of the weekend while also picking up her third win of the season.

Game 2: Mount St. Joseph 10, Piedmont 4

Mount St. Joseph's offense quickly got on top of Piedmont's pitching as they raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Piedmont did not answer back as the Mount St. Joseph pitching staff looked to hold the Lions' offense back after game one.

Mount St. Joseph kept their pace as they brought home two more runs in the second, growing their lead to 5-0. 

Jalyn McGee came on to pitch for the Lions in the second and got them out of the inning while putting up a scoreless frame in the third.

The Lions' offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth as they looked to climb back into the ballgame. Anslee Sauchegraw led off the inning with a single to left, and Ellie Lenz came to the plate in a run-producing situation once again. Lenz sent a ball to the right-center gap, giving ample time for Sauchegraw to speed around the base paths and score Piedmont's first run. With Lenz on second, Hannah Cintron stood in and brought her home with another double, this time to center field. With two runs on the board, the Lions looked to McGee to hold Mount St. Joseph at five to give them more opportunities to take the lead.

McGee was up to the task as she twirled another scoreless frame in the fifth, giving the bats a chance in the bottom half of the inning.

Piedmont put the leadoff runner on in the bottom of the inning, but their momentum stalled momentarily as the first two outs of the inning were recorded. With a runner on, Anslee Sauchegraw popped a routine fly ball to left field, but the Mount St. Joseph left fielder dropped the ball. With two outs, Brianna Logue, the Lions' runner, was already running as she came around to score on the error. Sauchegraw took second on the play. Looking for more, Valerie Bailey stood in and rocketed a single to center field, bringing home Sauchegraw and bringing the Lions ever closer to Mount St. Joseph's lead. Piedmont's rally ended soon after, but the team headed to the top of the sixth trailing by just one in a 5-4 ballgame.

McGee sought to hold back the Mount St. Joseph offense for another frame, but the bats proved to be too hot. Mount St. Joseph scored three in the inning, pouring cold water on the Piedmont rally. The Lions could not get anything started in the bottom half, opening the door for Mount St. Joseph to bring home two more in the seventh inning.

With a 10-4 lead, Mount St. Joseph set down the Lions in the bottom half of the seventh, earning the win.

The Lions offense continues to be pesky and advantageous as Vickery emerges to lead the pitching staff going forward.

Piedmont will head on the road to Winston-Salem, N.C., for their next matchup against Salem College on Wednesday, March 4, at 2 and 4 p.m.

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

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