RALEIGH, N.C. - Catcher Lorri Cole's fifth-inning grand slam pushed the Meredith College softball team out front for good in an 8-7 win over the USA South's leader Piedmont College in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. The Lions, ranked eighth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Poll, captured a 2-0 decision in game two to force the split.

A double play in the top of the first left three Lions on base with Meredith coming to bat.

Amanda White homered in the bottom of the frame, scoring Katlyn Johnson on the play, to give the Avenging Angels a 2-0 lead.

Pitcher Amanda Beirne and her supporting defense took care of the next six Piedmont batters to bring Alyssa D'Arco to the plate for Meredith in the bottom of the third. D'Arco doubled down the rigth field line and scored on a single from Johnson.

Johnson stole second and readied herself to score on White's second hit of the day to extend the Angel lead to four.

The Lions enjoyed a four-hit-four-run inning in the top of the fourth to tie the game and added another run in the top of the fifth to take their only lead of the game.

D'arco led off in the bottom of the frame with a hit-by-pitch and Leah Friedman moved her to second on a single. White loaded the bases in time for Cole's four-RBI homer to push Meredith back in front for good.

PC scored two in the top of the seventh, but Meredith's defense held on to three more runners to secure the victory.

Beirne captured her 14th win on the season, and Piedmont's Jordin Ellingson earned her second loss. Both pitchers lead the league with 14 wins apiece.

Game two moved much quicker as the Lions scored the only runs in the top of the fourth.

Meredith's Courtney Saunders posted a pair of singles, and Friedman added a single in the sixth to earn Meredith's only hits in the 2-0 loss.

Rookie Taylor Lynn Moore faced 20 batters in 3.2 innings and allowed both runs with a pair of strikeouts to earn the Meredith loss. Brittany Head earned the shutout for the Lions.

The Avenging Angels travel to Ferrum Sunday for a USA South doubleheader. A rainy forecast may alter the playing schedule. Follow the games via live stats courtesy of the Ferrum sports information team, and link here for updates on the start time.