Piedmont softball managed a doubleheader split against No. 19 Berry in a Wednesday afternoon non-conference road doubleheader picking up a win in game one. The Lions earned an 8-3 win over the Vikings before dropping game two 7-5.
Piedmont’s game one victory marked the first time the Vikings had lost at home since April 16, 2022.
Game 1: Piedmont 8, Berry 3
The Lions were undeterred by an early three-run deficit, responding with eight unanswered runs to stun the Vikings in game one.
Berry jumped ahead with a three-run blast in the first inning and held that lead into the third. Jordyn Green led off the frame with the first of her three hits, but was still standing on first base after a pair of strikeouts.
That set the stage for standout freshman Mandi Peretti, who delivered a two-run homer to immediately get Piedmont back in the game.
Still trailing by a run in the top of the fifth, again it was Green who got the rally started, this time with a one-out single. After a Kennedy Votava bunt single and a double steal to put two in scoring position, the Lions took advantage of Berry’s lone error of the game to plate the tying run.
That turned the lineup over to Peretti, who delivered again with the go-ahead single.
Clinging to a one-run lead, Piedmont took advantage of its last chance to add on, scoring four times to build a five-run cushion for the final three outs. Green led off with her third single of the game. With two outs, four consecutive RBI base hits from Peretti, Maddi Spieks, Jasmine Lowery and Addy Perkins gave Piedmont the 8-3 advantage.
That was more than enough for starting pitcher Megan Steinmeyer, who finished off the complete game by stranding two Vikings runners on base to close the door.
Game 2: Berry 7, Piedmont 5
The Lions struck first in game two with a pair of runs in the first but the Vikings fired back immediately as the two were tied at two after one.
Berry’s barrage began in the third inning as they scored five runs on five hits forcing Piedmont starter Taylor Spivey from the game. Summer McCranie entered in relief but the Vikings took a 7-2 lead at that point.
Piedmont was not out of it as they rallied in the seventh once more with three runs helped by a pair of walks and an error, but the Vikings escaped with the win to avoid a Piedmont sweep.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS:
– Mandi Peretti recorded four RBI in game one including a two run home run.
– Kennedy Votava was the lone Lion with more than a single hit in game two as she was 2-for-3.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– Piedmont won 13 in a row before dropping game two of the doubleheader.
