NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 4, Covenant 1
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 6, Covenant 5
Records: Piedmont, 22-14 (9-5 CCS); Covenant, 14-24 (5-9 CCS)

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont softball bounced back with a Senior Day doubleheader sweep over Covenant on a warm Saturday afternoon in Demorest.

Although both games were closely contested, the Lions held the upper hand most of the way throughout, winning game one by a 4-1 margin before holding on to win game two, 6-5.

Game 1: Piedmont 4, Covenant 1

Junior right-hander Taylor Spivey was dominant in the circle, shutting out the Scots until the seventh, walking none and striking out five. 

The Piedmont offense was led by a big-time performance from first baseman Valerie Bailey, who drove in three of the team's four runs for the game.

In the game's opening frame, the Lions did all of their damage with two outs. Freshman Ellie Lenz laced a triple to right field and Bailey immediately followed with an RBI single to bring home the game's first run.

Both pitchers breezed through the opposing lineups through the middle stretch of the game, with Spivey retiring the Scots on three pitches at one point.

Still clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, Bailey delivered with the bases loaded, driving home a pair of insurance runs to increase the Piedmont lead to 3-0.

While Spivey was chased from the game in the sixth, freshman Jalyn McGee entered and stranded a runner to keep the team shutout alive.

Piedmont added on an extra run in the bottom of the sixth, giving it plenty of cushion going to the seventh. The Scots scored once in their final at bat to avoid the shutout, but it was not enough as the Lions took game one.

Game 2: Piedmont 6, Covenant 5

Prior to game two beginning, Piedmont honored a number of its outstanding alumni before recognizing its five seniors (Rylie Erickson, Kaylee Taylor, Jacy Vickery, Kasey White, Maddi Spieks) for their contributions to the program.

It was the senior Erickson who was responsible for the game's first run, drawing a bases loaded walk as the Lions used instinctive baserunning to score two runs on the play.

Piedmont added on one more in the opening frame to lead 3-0 going to the second. However, Covenant answered quickly with two runs in the second to pull within one.

Another senior struck for Piedmont in the second, as Spieks tripled home Sarah Green to make it 4-2 in favor of the Lions.

The Lions added two more runs to lead 6-2 in the sixth, giving it just enough cushion for the final two innings, as they held off a Covenant rally, stranding the bases loaded in the seventh to hang on and win by a single run.

Up next, the Lions will have one more CCS doubleheder, taking on Wesleyan on the road next Friday, April 24 at 12 & 2 p.m.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- McGee provided standout relief, earning the save in both games and navigating out of some difficult situations.
- Bailey was the offensive star in game one, driving in three of the team's four total runs in the game.
- Spieks had a standout game two on her Senior Day, going 2-for-3 with an RBI triple, a walk and two runs scored.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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