Demorest, GA – With Mother Nature warming up, the Lady Lions followed suit as the bats were hot Sunday with Piedmont sweeping the doubleheader with a pair of victories in five innings, 9-0 and 9-1. Sarah Walker rebounded from a tough outing Saturday to pick up both victories as she was money on the mound tossing two complete games for a total of 10 innings, giving up just a single hit in each contest.
One of the biggest highlights of the day was Jessica Bagwell who crushed a three-run homerun over right-center in game two, marking her second long ball of the season. The Lions combined for 23 hits in the contests and forced the Monarchs into using five pitchers over 10 innings.
Game 1: Piedmont 9, Methodist 0 F/5
The Lady Lions ended it early after an Abby Smith double to center field drove in Becka Ross and Allison Vaughn in the fifth inning to end the game courtesy of the run rule. Sarah Walker tossed a gem with a complete game, one-hitter along with five strikeouts.
Piedmont got on the board in the bottom of the third inning as Bagwell got rolling early with a double to left field scoring Smith and Vaughn. Bagwell would come around to score as would Brittany Futral to put the Lady Lions on top 4-0.
The Lady Lions could not be stopped in the bottom of the fifth as Futral singled down the left field line, then after two outs, Piedmont began a rally to put it away after five innings. Abby Atkinson drove in Laura Carter while Ross added two RBI sending home Atkinson and Allyson Gentry.
The game-winning hit came off the bat of the Lady Lion who got them on the board first as Abby Smith once again doubled to center field and gave Piedmont the winning run.
All but one Lady Lion recorded a hit in the game with Abby Smith leading the charge going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Allison Vaughn, Laura Carter, and Whitney Wolfe all went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Game 2: Piedmont 9, Methodist 1 F/5
Piedmont continued their dominance in game two once again recording 10 hits and exploding for eight runs on seven hits in the second inning. The Lady Lions once again saw a stellar performance on the mound by Walker giving up one run on one hit and had three strikeouts.
It was the Monarchs who got on the board first with a run scored after an error, but Piedmont answered back in the bottom half of the frame. Piedmont batted around in the inning sending 10 batters to the plate.
Bagwell singled to begin the inning, followed by Futral hitting a single as well. Carter loaded the bases with a single of her own, then the Lady Lions tied the game as each runner advanced on a wild pitch.
Whitney Wolfe had the fourth single of the inning sending home Futral to put Piedmont on top 2-1, and they did not let up from there. Gentry doubled for two RBI driving in Wolfe and Carter.
Gentry stole third to put her in position to score on an Atkinson groundout to the pitcher, but the best was yet to come.
Jessica Bagwell’s three-run blast to right center gave Piedmont a commanding lead and put the Lady Lions on top 8-1. The Lady Lions once again won on a walk-off hit to take the game in five innings 9-1.
The Lady Lions move to 4-4 this season and 3-3 in the USA South with their next contests scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Walker Athletic Complex. Piedmont will host LaGrange College in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
