By JANIE HARRIS

Staff Writer

The Piedmont College Lady Lions swept the USA South Conference doubleheader against the Averett University Cougars Friday at Walker Field with the scores of 9-2 and 8-1, respectively. 

Piedmont’s overall record following the game is 9-2 and 8-1 in conference play.

Freshman pitcher for Averett, April Costa, started the bottom half of the first inning off with an illegal pitch.

Piedmont scored the first three runs of the opening game and kept Averett from scoring until the fifth inning. 

In the fifth inning, Averett fired at Piedmont with two runs.

 During the sixth, Averett switched pitchers. 

Then, Piedmont scored four more runs, causing the Cougars to swap pitchers for a third time.

The pitcher for Piedmont, Brittney Head, struck out a total of four players and allowed ten hits from Averett in seven innings of work.

During the first game, Olivia Duncan scored three runs for Piedmont and Taylor Morgan added two. 

Laura Carter, Kristin Hamby, Abby Atkinson and Megan McClain all scored one run for Piedmont, for a total score of 9-2. 

“We really stepped up offensively today and that played a huge role in the outcome of the game,” said McClain.

In the second game, Jordan Ellingson started as Piedmont’s pitcher with a strike out. 

She followed this strike out with five more throughout the game for a total of six. 

Throughout all seven innings, Ellingson allowed eight hits.

Piedmont scored the first run but was matched by a run scored by Averett. 

This was Averett’s only score of the second game.

In the fifth inning, Averett was charged with an illegal substitution for allowing Molly Nanney to bat for Lauren Averitt.

“That time it wasn’t necessarily illegal, said Morgan.

“Sometimes, coaches forget to tell the umpires that a player is coming back in the game.”

In the final game, McClain was the highest scorer for Piedmont with two hits. 

Hamby, Ellingson, Megan Kesler, Lauren Head, Whitney Wolfe and Heather Williams ran across the plate for Piedmont to secure Piedmont’s win with a score of 8-1.

“We came out ready to play and played like we’re capable of. Everyone worked hard and contributed to the wins,” Kesler said.

Piedmont faces Truett-McConnell College on March 26 at 2:30 PM in Demorest before a five game USA South stretch. 

All five games are away.