Need to Know
Game 1 Score: Piedmont 1, #6 Texas Lutheran 9 (F-5)
Game 2 Score: Piedmont 6, #24 Kean 1
Records: Lady Lions 9-7, Bulldogs 15-0, Cougars 3-9
Location: Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, GA - The Piedmont College softball team beat their second nationally ranked opponent of the season with a 6-1 victory over #24 Kean University to split a pair of contests at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday. The Lady Lions were downed by #6 Texas Lutheran as they remained undefeated this season with a 9-1 victory over Piedmont. 

In game one, it was a match-up with one the nation's best as Texas Lutheran improved to a then 15-0 with the five-inning decision over the Lady Lions. For the Bulldogs, it was a pair of multi-run innings that set the top ten foe apart as TLU picked up three runs in the third and five runs in the 5th with the latter ending the game early. 

Piedmont ran into one of the nation's tougher pitchers in the opener as Veny Pizana improved to 4-0 this season with the five inning outing issuing no walks to three strikeouts while allowing just one hit.  

The one hit given up by Pizana was a big one though as it came off the bat of ABBY SMITH who blasted a solo home run in the 5th to cut it to a three-run ballgame.  For Smith, the homer was her second of the season with both of those coming in tournament play for PC this year.

In game two, the Lady Lions took control in the third inning as HANNAH HOBAN hit a 3-run home run for her fourth homer of the season as the Lady Lion has made quite the impact in her first season with the club. With a 3-0 lead, JESSICA BAGWELL doubled to drive in JOSIE COKER for a 4-0 lead for Piedmont.

Kean added a run in the bottom of the frame cutting the lead to 4-1 but it remained at that score until the Lady Lions tacked on another pair in the top of the seventh as Coker singled scoring Smith and LINSAY LINK. SARAH WALKER threw the complete game with her sixth victory of the season as she allowed just two hits and a single run in the contest. 

Turning Point
--Texas Lutheran ended it early expanding on a 4-1 lead with five runs in the bottom of the 5th to invoke the eight-run rule against PC in the first game of the day.
--A three-run home run by HANNAH HOBAN put the Lady Lions on top in the second contest of the day.

Standout Performances
--The highlight for PC in the loss to Texas Lutheran came in the 5th when ABBY SMITH blasted a solo home run, her second shot of the season.
--Hoban was 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI against Kean. 

Inside the Box Score
--A double steal in the third by Texas Lutheran gave the #6 ranked Bulldogs a 4-0 lead after three innings.
--SARAH WALKER picked up her sixth win of the season moving to 6-3 overall after a complete game giving up just two hits and one run while adding six strikeouts. 

News & Notes
--Texas Lutheran also won its first two games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic defeating Western Connecticut and Central (IA), the two teams that handed losses to Piedmont on day one.
--Piedmont has now faced three nationally ranked foes in its four games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

Up Next
The schedule for Sunday features a pair of games for Piedmont beginning with Ithaca at 11 a.m. 

How to Follow
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