NEED TO KNOW:
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 8, Johnson & Wales (NC) 0 (F/6)
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 9, Johnson & Wales (NC) 0 (F/5)
Records: Piedmont, 20-10; Johnson & Wales (NC), 5-21

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont softball continued its winning ways on Wednesday afternoon in Demorest, sweeping a doubleheader against Johnson & Wales (NC) on a cool but sunny day.

The Lions won 8-0 in six innings in game one before needing just five innings to complete the doubleheader sweep in game two.

Maddi Spieks had a big day at the plate for Piedmont, going 2-for-3 in game one before recording a 3-for-3 performance in game two.

Game 1 Score: Piedmont 8, JWU 0 (F/6)

Piedmont struck early and often in game one, and that was more than enough for starting pitcher Taylor Spivey, who shut down the Wildcats with a 6.0 inning complete game shutout.

The Lions tallied 13 hits, compared to just two for JWU.

Five Lions delivered multi-hit performances to set the tone for the rest of the day.

Piedmont manufactured five runs over the first two innings to grab the early advantage, highlighted by an Ellie Lenz RBI single in the first and an RBI double by Spieks in the second.

Leading 5-0 until the fifth inning, the Lions put the game away with two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. Earning her first start of the season, Sarah Green totaled a pair of hits and drove home Piedmont's seventh run, a fifth inning RBI single.

Needing just on run to end the festivities an inning early, freshman Anslee Saunchegraw was up to the task, lacing an RBI double to left field to bring home Mandi Peretti and ice the win in six innings.

Game 2 Score: Piedmont 9, JWU 0 (F/5)

Although the bats started a bit slowly in game two, a seven-run bottom of the fourth inning allowed Piedmont to take care of the Wildcats in five innings and complete the doubleheader sweep.

Freshman pitcher Maile Dunn earned the start in the circle and was dominant, allowing just two hits and no runs in a complete game shutout.

In a score line that nearly mirrored the first game of the day, Piedmont totaled 13 hits, compared to JWU's 2.

Saunchegraw picked up where she left off in game one, as her third inning RBI single broke a scoreless tie.

The trio of Saunchegraw, reigning CCS Player of the Week Valerie Bailey and Spieks were responsible for the first six Piedmont runs of the game.

In the fourth inning, Spieks rocketed a ball into the right centerfield gap, sliding into third for a triple before the throw got away from the Wildcats, allowing her to come home and score, making it a 4-0 Piedmont lead in the fourth.

Saunchegraw then drove in her second run of the game on an RBI single before singles by Bailey and Rylie Erickson, followed by a Hannah Durham pinch hit triple gave the Lions a 9-0 lead and a cushion to end the game early heading to the fifth.

Dunn allowed just one baserunner, but otherwise breezed through the top of the fifth to put a close to the day and giving Piedmont its 20th win of the season.

Up next, the Lions will step back into conference play, heading to Mississippi to battle Belhaven this Saturday, April 11 at 1 and 3 p.m. (EDT).

TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont pitchers Taylor Spivey and Maile Dunn combined to allow just four hits total across 13.0 innings of shutout work over the two games.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Spieks and Saunchegraw are each approaching a .500 batting average, with Spieks sitting at .490 and Saunchegraw at .489 after both recorded big days at the plate.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- JWU had two hits and Piedmont had 13 in both games on the day.

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