DEMOREST, GA – After winning game one, 8-6, the William Peace Softball Team rallied back in game two, scoring nine runs in their final at-bat of the day to erase a 3-0 deficit and secure a sweep over Piedmont. It was an especially notable day for head coach Charlie Dobbins and his squad, as the Pacers took down the conference's preseason favorites and a Piedmont team who was recently ranked as high as no. 23 in the national polls.
Game One: William Peace 8, Piedmont 6
WPU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after their first at bat. Lindsey Wiggins and Caroline Womble both singled to lead things off. They moved up to second and third on a groundout before coming home to score on Brandi Stamey's two-out single.
Piedmont got one back in the bottom half of the first and took 4-2 lead after scoring three in the second, but the Pacers answered with five runs on five hits in the top of the third to recapture the lead, 7-4.
The Pacers loaded them up with no outs. Womble drew a walk, Morgan Farmer and Shay Poteat both singled, and then Stamey doubled to score Farmer and Womble. Michaela Fox followed Stamey with a two RBI double of her own, and then Casey Taylor plated Fox with a base knock.
WPU added another in the fifth, as Taylor doubled and scored on an RBI single from Wiggins. Piedmont rallied in their final at bat but fell short, 8-6.
Lauren Martin (2-0) started in the circle and got the win, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and a strikeout. Heather Dindinger came in to relieve Martin in the seventh and close things out.
At the plate, Womble went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Taylor collected three hits as well, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Stamey went 2-for-3, drove in four and scored a pair.
Sarah Walker (2-2) was pinned with the loss for Piedmont, giving up seven runs on eight hits in two innings pitched. Becka Ross went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored to pace the Lion's offense.
Game Two: William Peace 9, Piedmont 3
WPU (7-6-1, 4-2 USAS) outhit Piedmont through six innings (8-6), but had nothing to show for it. The Pacers trailed 3-0 heading into their final at bat of the day, until exploding for nine runs and a sweep of the conference's preseason favorites.
Poteat and Wiggins both singled to lead off the seventh. Michelle Sheldon-Gregorio was inserted as a pinch runner and scored on a single from Caroline Womble to make it 3-1. Morgan Farmer walked to load the bases, and then Stamey drew a base on balls to bring home Wiggins. Casey Taylor reached on a fielder's choice to drive home the tying run, Michaela Fox followed with an RBI walk for a 4-3 lead, and the Pacers cruised from there. Gregorio and Wiggins added RBI singles in the inning, and Gregorio capped off the inning scoring on a wild pitch.
Morgan Farmer started in the circle but didn't factor in the decision, giving up three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in four innings. Dindinger (2-3) made her second relief appearance of the day to earn the win, allowing only one hit in a scoreless three innings of work.
Wiggins led the offense with a 4-for-5 game to go along with an RBI and a run scored. Gregorio went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Fox also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Womble went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
For Piedmont (2-4, 1-3 USAS), Walker (2-3) was tacked with her second loss of the day. She walked three and allowed four runs in a brief stint in the seventh. Abby Smith went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Lions offensively. Laura Carter went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The WPU Softball team will return to action next Saturday and Sunday traveling for conference doubleheaders against Greensboro and Meredith.
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