9 Softball Angels Earn USA South 2016 All-Academic Honors

 From Meredith Sports Information Department,June 14, 2016

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Sixty-two Meredith College student-athletes were named to the 2016 USA South All-Academic team as announced recently from the conference office. The selection represents 44 percent of the Avenging Angels roster and includes track and field student-athletes for the first time in college history.

Each student-athlete must earn a minimum 3.0 term grade point average both semesters of a given academic year to be eligible. Any student-athlete participating in a varsity sport offered by a USA South member institution is eligible for recognition. A record 1,458 student-athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors.

Complete USA South List

The nine Meredith College Softball Avenging Angels to garner USA South All-Academic honors:

Julia Allsbrook - 2nd year honoree
Eran Artiques - 2nd year honoree
Ellen Blevins - 1st year honoree
Alyssa D'Arco - 3rd year honoree
Haley Ervin - 2nd year honoree
Erica Occena - 2nd year honoree
Janelle Sanford - 1st year honoree
Courtney Saunders - 4th year honoree
Megan Tarpey - 1st year honoree

Team Awards

2016 Season Review and Team Honors

Meredith softball honors three players with the following award (from left to right):

Most Valuable Player - Eran Artiques

Dean Burris Coach's Award - Courtney Saunders
Jack Huber Softball Award - Lauren Marbrey

Season Awards

USA South All-Conference, Honorable Mention - Maria Annunziata (Outfield)
USA South All-Conference, Honorable Mention - Eran Artiques (Second Base)
USA South All-Conference, Honorable Mention - Haley Ervin (Utility)
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team - Julia Allsbrook

USA South 2016 Season and Tournament Recap

Four Softball Sophomores Earn End-of-Season Honor

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Four Meredith College softball sophomores earned recognition Wednesday as the USA South Softball end-of-season awards were announced by the conference office. Eran Artigues, Maria Annunziata, and Haley Ervin earned All-Conference honorable mention recognition, and Julia Allsbrook was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.

Second baseman Artigues collected her second career honorable mention honor this spring. She ranks seventh in the conference with a .695 slugging percentage and sits in a tie for sixth with six home runs this season. Her .378 hitting percentage and 31 RBI place her in third among the Avenging Angels, and she leads Meredith all-time with 27 walks in a single season.

Outfielder Annunziata lit up the outfield from the beginning of the season with a pair of homers in game one. She sat atop all of NCAA Division III with nine home runs on March 24 and remains tied for seventh nationally. Annunziata's 30 runs batted in place her 10th among USA South players.

Ervin earned her award as a utility player spending time in the outfield, at second base, as the designated player, a pinch hitter, and a pinch runner. She leads the Angels with a hitting percentage of .463 in her 41 at-bats and 25 games played this season to go along with an on base percentage of .488.

Allsbrook earned recognition for her sportsmanship this season, and she also made an impact at first base and at the plate. She recorded 15 hits, including four doubles and seven RBI, and posted a .370 hitting percentage in conference play.

USA South full release

Softball Caps Off Season Versus #4 Marlins

The Meredith Avenging Angels

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Meredith College softball team capped off the 2016 season with a pair of six-inning losses to the host Virginia Wesleyan Marlins, 10-2 and 8-0. Seven Angels recorded a hit on the day with Eran Artigues and Alyssa D'Arco driving in Meredith's only runs in game one.

The Marlins boast an earned run average of 1.03, ranked third nationally among Division III programs, and VWC hurlers demonstrated their talent in the circle today.

Scoreless through five innings of game one, the Avenging Angels rallied in the top of the sixth with a walk from Kayla North, followed by singles from Artigues, D'Arco, and Kenan Bunn.

But a leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame launched a four hit, three run drive from the Marlins to end the game early.

Taylor Jackson recorded her 10th loss on the season, and Mary Shipp claimed her 12th win for Wesleyan.

Game two followed much the same pattern, but VWC's leading pitcher Kandis Kresinski shut out the Angels. Megan Tarpey singled through the right side in the top of the third, and Julia Allsbrook doubled to the left field gap in the fifth for the only hits in the nightcap.

Lauren Marbrey took the loss for the Angels, and Kresinski moved to 14-1 on the year for Wesleyan.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Courtney's Senior Day

RALEIGH, N.C. - Courtney Saunder's Senior Day started with a tough loss to Averett, continued with a lot of love for her and her parents between games, and ended with the best come-from-behind win of the season starring Courtney!

In between games, Dr. Jackie Myers, Meredith's Athletic Director, talked about Courtney's contributions to the Meredith Softball Program. Dr. Myers noted that Courtney stands tall as a role model for all student-athletes at Meredith. As a two-year captain, she helped lead the team during years when upperclass leadership was most important as the teams were made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores. A true all-around player, Courtney has seen time at 2nd base, 3rd base, Shortshop, all the outfield positions, and in the pitching circle. Courtney's alumni teammates thought enough of her to record their thoughts and congratulations for her Sr. Day ceremonies. Members from the 2013, 2014, and 2015 classes, along with former Asst. Coach Dawn Malone wished her all the best, and "Outties Forever"!

A 2015 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete,  four-time USA South All-Academic honoree, All-Conference honoree in 2015, and USA South Rookie of the Week in 2013, Saunders leaves Meredith softball with her achievements placing her in the top 5 of 7 career statistic categories (Most Games Played, Most Games Started, Most At Bats, Most Runs Scored, Most Hits, Most Total Bases, Most Sacrifice Hits) and ranking 2nd in Doubles and Double Plays Turned..

Athletic Director Jackie Meyer's Senior Day presentation to Courtney Saunders

Meredith Softball Alumni Congratulate Courtney Saunders on Senior Day

Scavone's Softball Angels Split with Averett to Reach 20-Win Season

Wally and Cindy Saunders share Courtney's Senior Day
celebration.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Meredith College Avenging Angels capped off Sunday's USA South doubleheader with a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over the visiting Averett Cougars to record the program's third 20-win season under the direction of Head Coach Kim Scavone. AU earned a 15-2 win in a five-inning game one to open the day.

Averett opened strong scoring seven runs on six hits through three innings, but Eran Artigues terminated the rally with a two-RBI homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the third.

The Cougar bats were undisturbed by the interruption and managed to drive in eight more runs during the next two innings to pull away for the win.

Taylor Jackson posted her eighth loss for the Angels allowing two home runs with two earned runs. Leigh Ann Charles relieved Jackson but was replaced by Katie Kepley in the fourth after being hit in the foot by a ball. AU's Mary Beth Smith pitched a complete game for her 17th win.

Julia Allsbrook went two-for-two for Meredith, including an extra-base hit in the fourth.

Game two opened at a much slower pace with the Cougars leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Courtney Saunders opened the frame with a single and Artigues moved her to second with one of four walks on the day. Maria Annunziata drilled one up the middle to score Saunders tying the game at twos. Kayla North entered to run for Artigues, and Bryce Smith drove her home in the next at-bat. Charley Cox advanced Meredith's lead to two with a RBI-double to close out the inning.

Averett responded with a trio of runs to retake the lead and followed with five position changes in the field as the Angels readied to bat.

Meredith rallied with a two-RBI double from Saunders followed by a sacrifice fly from Artigues to place the Angels back in front. AU returned four players to their original positions to get out of the inning, but the Meredith defense finished off the Cougars in the top of the seventh for the split.

Lauren Marbrey earned the win for Meredith in game two allowing nine hits with two earned runs, two walks, and two KO's. Jessica Griffin entered in relief in the bottom of the sixth for Averett to record the loss.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Meredith Athletics Recognizes NCAA Division III Week

Posted: April 6, 2016

Meredith College, the USA South Athletic Conference, and all 450 members and the NCAA Division III celebrate NCAA Division III week in April. This week highlights the well-rounded collegiate experience of the Avenging Angels that involves a balance of rigorous academic, competitive athletics, and the opportunity to pursue other co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities offered at Meredith.

The 142 Avenging Angels currently participating on a Meredith varsity squad commit to a strong education while competing at a high level on the course, field, or court. NCAA Division III student-athletes dedicate their mind, body, and heart to a sport for the love of the game and without financial reward or obligation.

Like more than 190,000 other Division III student-athletes, Meredith Angels discover valuable lessons in teamwork, discipline, perseverance and leadership, which in turn makes them better students, responsible citizens, and strong employees.

Join the athletics department this weekend as we celebrate the impacting career of Courtney Saunders.  Softball utility Courtney will complete her four year career in an Avenging Angels uniform Sunday, April 10, as Meredith wraps up the conference season versus Averett University, Head Coach Kim Scavone will honor Saunders' career in-between games of Sunday's doubleheader.

A 2015 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, an four-time USA South All-Academic honoree, Saunders reach the top-10 all-time at Meredith in 12 categories and still has room left in her final season to move up the ranks. As of April 6th, with 10 career double plays turned. Saunders is one of three Avenging Angels who rank first in the statistical category. Her 30 stolen bases place her in second and 12 sacrifice hits place her in a tie for fourth all-time. Saunders' ranks fifth by herself with 394 at-bats and 156 total bases, and she is tied for 5th with 61 runs scored.