SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - The Mount Vernon varsity softball team fell behind early and could never recover, dropping a 12-7 decision to the 4A St. Pius Golden Lions (5-0) on Monday afternoon at the Glenn Campus Softball Field.

The Golden Lions pounced early, scoring two runs in the first inning.

After Lindsey Broadway doubled, Grace Bartle reached on a single. Broadway would get stuck in a pickle between third and first on the toss into the infield, forcing the Mustangs into a throwing error resulting in the games' first run.

Bartle later came in to score on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.

St. Pius padded its lead in the top of the second when Ella Taube singled to left field to plate Mackenzie Shea who singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt earlier in the inning.

The Golden Lions made it a 4-0 contest in the top of the third when Lola Frankowski doubled to right field to bring home Josie Lord.

The Mustang bats woke up in the bottom half of the fourth, plating three runs to pull within one.

After loading the bases, Kendall Slayden singled to left to bring home Lauren Waters for a 4-1 game.

One batter later, Bella Dishman smashed a double to left to score Kate Christian and Savannah Messner.

The Golden Lions answered with five runs in the fourth frame.

Broadway and Taube singled and scored in the inning along with Bartle, who came in on a Josie Lord double.

After the fourth, the Golden Lions had a commanding 9-3 lead and added another run in the fifth when Bartle drove in Broadway on a RBI single to make it a 10-3 contest.

Mount Vernon countered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Savannah Messner crossed home on a Dishman single.

Dishman scored one batter later on an MC Springer single to make it a 10-5 Golden Lions lead.

St. Pius added two runs in the sixth and a late rally by Mount Vernon that resulted in two runs fell short.

Lord picked up the win in the circle for the Mustangs.

The righty tossed six innings, allowing seven hits, seven runs while collecting 10 strikeouts.

Slayden (1-2) took the loss for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs (1-2) are back in action on Thursday, August 16, traveling to McDonough, Ga. for a battle against the ELCA Chargers.

First pitch is slated for 5:55 p.m.

The Mount Vernon Athletic Department strives to build the student-athlete by providing a five-star experience built on community, relentlessness, innovation, hospitality and professionalism. As a school of inquiry, innovation and impact grounded in Christian values, we prepare all students to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. For more information on Mount Vernon athletics, visit Click Here and follow @MV_Athletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the Mustangs.

BOX SCORE:

SP 211-512-0 -- 12-17-2
MV 003-020-2 -- 7-7-5

WP: Josie Lord. LP: Kendall Slayden (1-2).

2B: SP - Lindsey Broadway 2, Lord, Lola Frankowski, Elizabeth Hong; MV - Bella Dishman 2, MC Springer.

Records: St.Pius 5-0, Mount Vernon 1-2.

Next: Mount Vernon at ELCA, 5:55 p.m., Thursday.