NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 12, Asbury 3 (F/6)
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 9, Asbury 1 (F/5)
Records: Piedmont, 12-7 (2-0 CCS); Asbury, 9-5 (0-2 CCS)

WILMORE, Ky. - Piedmont softball opened CCS play with a doubleheader sweep on the road against Asbury Friday afternoon, coming away with a dominant 12-3 win in game one before another run rule decision in game two, a 9-1 victory in five innings.

Game 1: Piedmont 12, Asbury 3 (F/6)

The top of the Piedmont batting order was too much for the Eagles to handle in the opener, as the Lions 1-3 hitters all had big games at the plate.

Anslee Saunchegraw continued her incredible start to her career, launching a two-run home run in the first inning and adding an RBI double later in the game, finishing with 3-for-4 batting line, with three RBI.

Mandi Peretti, moved up to the No. 2 spot in the order, went 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI while Maddi Spieks was 3-for-4 with three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.

That was more than enough for starting pitcher Jacy Vickery, who tossed a 6.0 inning complete game, allowing just four hits and three runs with five strikeouts. Vickery improved her season record to 7-3.

Piedmont led wire-to-wire, scoring four times each in three separate innings, striking for four in the first, again in the fourth and once more in the sixth to polish off the run rule victory.

Game 2: Piedmont 9, Asbury 1 (F/5)

Piedmont elevated its play even more in game two, this time adding a dominant pitching effort from Taylor Spivey to the mix. The right-hander tossed 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit, no runs and striking out three before giving way to the bullpen to close out the run rule victory.

On the offensive side, the top of the order was once again all over the bases.

Spieks set the table at the top of the order, with a huge 3-for-4 performance with a double and four RBI to lead the team. Peretti added another multi-hit game out of the No. 2 spot while Valerie Bailey went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

The bottom of the order proved productive as well, with Madison Hawkins adding a two-hit game with two runs scored as Bailee Davis scored twice out of the No. 9 spot.

The game was tightly contested in the early going. However, the Lions broke through in the third on a bases loaded RBI single from Spieks followed by a bases loaded walk to Saunchegraw.

After the Eagles cut the Piedmont lead to 2-1 in the fourth, the fifth inning saw the Lions take complete control with a seven-run inning to remove all doubt. The first six Lions to bat in the inning all reached base. Bailey's two RBI single made it a 5-1 game before Spieks delivered the big hit, a bases-clearing three-run double that gave the Lions the 9-1 lead.

Spivey set down the Eagles in order in the bottom of the fifth to preserve the run rule win.

Up next, the Lions will have another CCS doubleheader on the schedule for next Tuesday, March 24 at Agnes Scott.

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont jumped on Asbury early in game one with a four-run first inning highlighted by Saunchegraw's two-run blast.
- Game two was closely contested until the Lions broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Maddi Spieks tallied six hits on the day, going 3-for-4 in both games. 
- Saunchegraw launched her CCS-leading seventh home run of the season in the first inning of game one.
- Jacy Vickery and Taylor Spivey each turned in solid performances in the circle, holding down the Asbury offense.

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