NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 8; Eastern Mennonite 4
Game 2 Score: Randolph-Macon 2; Piedmont 1

RALEIGH, N.C. — Piedmont softball once again earned a split in the Diamond Classic as Anslee Sauchegraw emerged as a key bat.

The Lions outslugged Eastern Mennonite before falling to Randolph-Macon in a tight pitchers duel.

Game 1: Piedmont 8, Eastern Mennonite 4

The Lions got to work early with Maddi Spieks getting on base in front of Anslee Sauchegraw, who delivered a two-run blast to get Piedmont started in game one.

Taylor Spivey started game one for the Lions and continued to build on a strong tournament with a shutdown inning in the first. 

Piedmont put the leadoff runner on in the second inning but ran into two quick outs. A flyout put the bat in the hands of Sauchegraw, and the freshman slugged yet another home run, giving the Lions a 4-0 lead. 

Spivey held the Royals' offense back through three innings. The Royals broke through in the fourth, putting up just one run. Piedmont responded with a run in the top of the fifth inning, growing its lead to 5-1.

The Royals battled back, striking for two in the bottom of the fifth. With just a two-run lead, the Lions' offense got back to work, adding runs in the sixth and seventh to score three and handing the ball to Spivey to close out the game away in the bottom of the seventh.

Spivey allowed traffic and runs to come across but steadied and collected the final two outs to get the win.

Game 2: Randolph-Macon 2, Piedmont 1

A pitchers duel was set in the Lions' second game of the day as Jacy Vickery took to the circle for Piedmont. On Randolph-Macon's side, Kailey Jackson got the ball.

The two pitchers twirled two shutout frames to open the ballgame. In the third, the Yellow Jackets put runners on against Vickery and brought home a run on a sacrifice fly. Vickery held firm to get out of the inning, allowing just one run.

Jackson kept the hot-hitting Lions at bay as Piedmont struggled to put runners on base against the Yellow Jacket hurler.

Vickery fired two more shutout innings before allowing another one-run frame in the sixth.

Facing defeat, the Lions rallied in the top of the seventh. With one runner on, Ellie Lenz stood in and delivered Piedmont's first hit of the game, advancing the runner to third and putting herself at first. With two outs, Hannah Cintron put the ball in play and brought home the Lions' lone run. The Piedmont rally ended on the next batter as they came up just short in the final game of the tournament.

The Lions will have a week's reprieve before returning to action on Wednesday, March 18, against Brevard with game one set for 12 p.m.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Anslee Sauchegraw hit two homers on the day and slugged five on the weekend.
- Taylor Spivey had another good outing, picking up another win in the tournament.

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 Twitter: @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.