By JESSE SUTTON

Sports Editor

The Piedmont College Lady Lions softball team eased into their home schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 20 with two wins against Elmira College. 

In the first game of the double header, Piedmont snatched a 2-1 win over the Soaring Eagles. 

Elmira crumbled during the second game, losing to the Lady Lions 0-8.

During the first inning of the game one, Elmira College started off strong with a quick run. 

Piedmont ended the first half of the inning before any other Soaring Eagles could touch home base. 

On offense, Megan McClain led off for Piedmont, pushing Elmira’s pitcher to a full count before hitting a triple. 

Piedmont answered Elmira’s run as Olivia Duncan singled and earned an RBI as McClain scored Piedmont’s first run of the game and first at-home run of the season. 

For the next six innings, pitcher Brittany Head held the Soaring Eagles to no additional runs. 

Piedmont would struggle on offense, not earning another run until the bottom of the sixth inning. 

During the sixth inning, Piedmont loaded the bases, with Jamie Dennis,  Abby Atkinson, and Jordin Ellingson on base. 

Torie Mitchell reached first base on fielder’s choice, and Dennis scored Piedmont’s final run with the Lady Lions ahead 2-1. 

Piedmont closed the inning with bases loaded, as Taylor Morgan grounded out to end Piedmont’s last offensive attack for the first game. 

Brittany Head handled all three of the last batters well, as one popped out, another grounded out and the last struck out swinging. 

She faced 24 batters, allowing only two hits. 

“I felt like the home opener went great,” said Head. 

“We learned from our mistakes in the first game and rallied to rule Elmira in the second game. [It was a] great team effort both games”

For the second game, Piedmont started freshman pitcher Jordan Ellingson. 

As her first home game for the Piedmont Lions, she held the Soaring Eagles to no runs as Piedmont settled in and soared past the competition. 

Piedmont’s defense held Emira to only two hits. 

On offense, the Lady Lions didn’t add to the score board during the first inning. 

However, Piedmont took off during the second, scoring five runs on four hits and two errors. 

The runs were scored by Dennis, Mitchell, Ellingson, Morgan and Megan Kesler. 

After the second inning’s blowout, the Soaring Eagles could not recapture their momentum and allowed Piedmont to score three more times, once in the third inning and twice in the fourth. 

The game ended after only five innings due to the run rule going into effect.

Piedmont is now 4-0 on the season and returns to the field March 1 against Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga.