Demorest, GA – With the game on the line, the Lady Lion softball team rose to the occasion twice Wednesday with a walk-off and surviving with a fifth inning rally to avoid a run rule in game two. Jessica Bagwell’s walk-off in the seventh inning of game one lifted the Lady Lions to a 3-2 victory, but a strong start by the Panthers led them to an 11-6 victory in game two.
Bagwell has been hot of late as she had a homerun during Sunday’s contest with Methodist and provided a walk-off game winner Wednesday. The freshman is now batting .435 this season, good for second best on the team, and has a team-high 11 RBI through 10 games.
Game 1: Piedmont 3, LaGrange 2
Freshman Jessica Bagwell played beyond her years coming up clutch with a walk-off hit to seal a 3-2 come from behind victory. She led the team going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in a five-hit performance by the Lions.
Despite being outhit 10 to five, Piedmont survived with Sarah Walker tossing the complete game going seven innings giving up 10 hits, but just two runs both unearned and fanned three batters.
The Panthers got on the board first with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Lions answered back in the bottom half of the frame. None other than Jessica Bagwell came through with a double to right field scoring Laura Carter.
Once again, LaGrange retook the lead in the top of the sixth when Christy Flick singled up the middle scoring Adrienne Little to lead 2-1. Piedmont again had an answer to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning.
This time, Abby Smith got it all done on her own as she hit a triple and as she reached third, the throw from right field sailed into the Piedmont dugout, allowing her to advance on the throw and score for the Lady Lions.
One inning later, LaGrange looked to cause trouble after a lead-off double, but the Panthers stranded the runner. Piedmont had a two out rally with a single by Allison Vaughn, Becka Ross getting walked and Jessica Bagwell singled for the game-winner.
Game 2: LaGrange 11, Piedmont 6
It took late inning heroics twice to keep pace with the Panthers, but a fifth inning rally was not enough to give the Lady Lions a sweep of the doubleheader as Piedmont lost 11-6 in game two.
Olivia Wolfe pitched a gem for the Panthers as she was throwing a no-hitter into the fifth inning with an 11-0 lead for her club. She walked the first two batters of the fifth inning before giving up her only hit of the game as Laura Carter singled to left center scoring Amber Triguero putting the Lady Lions on the board.
Piedmont still needed to score three runs to avoid an early ending, and Becka Ross grounded out sending Whitney Wolfe home and just two pitches later, Jessica Bagwell singled sending around Carter. An error allowed Allyson Gentry to reach first and two more runs scored putting the Lady Lions in position to extend the game at 11-5.
The Lady Lions survived a scare in the top of the sixth as the Panthers had three hits but left all three on base keeping the score 11-5, however, Piedmont went three-up, three-down on four pitches that inning. In the seventh, the Lady Lions pushed across another run on a Gentry single through the right side scoring Bagwell.
LaGrange got on top early with a four-run first inning, including a two-run homerun by pitcher Olivia Wolfe, and again had a monster inning scoring seven in the fourth inning.
Bagwell ended the game with a team-high two hits including a double, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Both Abby Smith and Gentry went 1-for-3 in the game with Smith having a run scored and Gentry picking up an RBI.
Wolfe ended the day as one of only two pitchers for the Panthers tossing four innings in game two, giving up only one hit and three earned runs. She walked five batters while striking out two.
Piedmont will return to action on Saturday at Walker Athletic Complex taking on Salem College in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Video will be available through the Mane Event Broadcasting Network as well as live stats provided through Piedmont Athletic Communications.
