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.

Scots Deliver Disappointing Sweep to Softball

Courtney stretches at short to deliver the out at first..

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Under cold, blustery weather conditions Saturday afternoon, the visiting Maryville Scots handed Meredith College softball a pair of losses in USA South action. Eran Artigues found the sweet spot on her bat twice with a pair of dingers in game one, and Courtney Saunders ripped two down the line for extra base hits on the day.

All field players from both teams had to be ready at any time as any ball hit in the air managed to move into a different space with little warning. First basemen caught balls hit in the air to second, center fielders rushed to keep pace with balls moving fast in another direction. But both teams managed to find a way to make outs and find the gap.

Game one opened well for the Avenging Angels, as Saunders and Artigues drove in three runs to jumpstart the day. Artigues' second homer in the bottom of the third extended the Angels' lead to four.

But Maryville put two runners on in the top of the fourth, and Gabrielle Rathmell drove in the Scot's first run on an infield error. A sacrifice fly scored a second as MVC inched closer.

Three singles in the top of the fifth loaded the Maryville bases, and Meredith failed to stop a seven-run rally to give the Scots a five-run advantage.

Each team scored one more to leave the visitors with a five-run victory.

Taylor Jackson recorded the loss as she allowed eight hits and four earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. Maryville's Casey Joliff entered in the bottom of the third to earn her fourth win on the season.

The Scots maintained the momentum after the break to score five runs through the first four innings of game two. Leigh Ann Charles entered to replace Lauren Marbrey in the circle in the top of the fifth, and the Angels closed out the frame unscathed.

Rathmell drove in another RBI in the top of the sixth before the Meredith bats finally responded in the bottom of the inning. Saunders' double down the left field line and an extra base on a passed ball positioned her for Brittany Bucklin's RBI-double to put the Angels on the board. But a series of pinch hit efforts in the bottom of the seventh proved unfruitful leaving Meredith with a second loss.

Marbrey took the loss for Meredith allowing four earned runs on eight hits, and Morgan Coreland recorded the win for the Scots.

The Avenging Angels close out the USA South Regular Season Sunday with a doubleheader versus Averett, now tied for second place with Maryville in current league standings. Head Coach Kim Scavone and her squad will honor the outstanding four-year career of Courtney Saunders in between games.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

#8 Captains Top Softball 10-2, 7-2

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In non-conference action Wednesday evening, the Meredith College softball team dropped two games versus former USA South foe Christopher Newport, ranked eighth nationally in the latest NFCA poll.

The Captains started off strong scoring five runs on seven hits with a pair of Meredith missteps through the first two innings on the day, but Avenging Angel Katie Kepley sacrificed her at-bat in the top of the third to score Charley Cox.

Unfortunately, CNU's Scoop Simon notched her second homer of the game in the bottom of the frame to extend the Captain lead to seven.

With Brittany Bucklin and Alyssa D'Arco on the corners in the top of the fourth, Cox hit one in the left field gap to drive in Bucklin.

But CNU scored two more in the next inning to end the game early with a win.

In her fourth career appearance, Leigh Ann Charles pitched 4.0 innings allowing nine hits with seven earned runs and a pair of walks for the loss. Lauren Marbrey entered in the fifth to close out the game. Christopher Newports Tara Heatwole recorded her 11th win on the day allowing seven hits with two earned runs, three walks, and one strikeout.

CNU maintained the momentum into game two taking a 3-0 lead after the first two innings. In the top of the fourth, Bryce Smith doubled down the left field line and Maria Annunziata drove her home to put the Angels on the board.

But the Captains scored four runs on five hits in the bottom of the frame to extend their lead six.

In the top of the sixth, Meredith loaded the bases on a double from Courtney Saunders and a pair of walks from Janelle Sanford and Annunziata. Sarah Watson scored Saunders on a fielder's choice to short, but the run would be the last for the Angels.

Taylor Jackson took the loss for the Angels allowing eight hits with six earned runs, three walks, and four strikeouts. Charles stepped in to close out the final 2.1 innings and allowed one hit with a pair of walks and one strikeout. Hanah Marshall notched her seventh win for the Captains.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

Softball Angels Notch Pair of Wins at Ferrum

Eran's home run was the difference in game 2.

FERRUM, Va. -- The Meredith College softball squad capped off a USA South Conference weekend with a pair of victories over the host Ferrum Panthers. A flurry of Ferrum miscues helped the Angels to a 3-1 win in game one, and a game winning, lead off homer from Eran Artigues in the fifth inning of the nightcap finished off the sweep 1-0.

After a scoreless first inning to open the day, Erica Occena drove in Bryce Smith on a double to left to put the Angels on the board. Ferrum tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but the Meredith defense left three Panthers on base to end the rally.

The Angels scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth to close out the win.

Taylor Jackson pitched a complete game allowing two hits with one earned run, four walks, and three strikeouts for the win, and Ferrum's Amanda Roberts took the loss.

In game two Ferrum out hit the Angels five-to-three, but Meredith just needed one to finish of the Panthers for the win.

Lauren Marbrey pitched the shutout allowing five hits with four strikeouts, and Courtney Rudd earned the loss allowing one earned run on eight hits with as many strikeouts.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

D'Arco's Five RBI Lead Softball in Baldwin Sweep

Taylor Jackson

STAUNTON, Va. -- Alyssa D'Arco led the Meredith College softball Angels in a doubleheader sweep over host Mary Baldwin with five RBI in a pair of pinch hit appearances Saturday afternoon. Taylor Jackson set the tone in a 7-1 game one win with 13 strikeouts, and the Avenging Angels capped off the day with a five-inning, 10-2 victory.

In a 1-1 stalemate in the opening game heading into the fifth, the Angels stepped up and loaded the bases on a single from Maria Annunziata, followed by a double from Eran Artigues, and a walk from Ellen Blevins. Julia Allsbrook placed one in right field to drive in a pair of runs, and D'Arco drilled a dinger to center field to put Meredith in front for good.

Jackson allowed one earned run on four hits with two walks to go along with her 13 Ks for her sixth win, and Kate Dickinson entered in the fifth to record her fourth loss for the Fighting Squirrles.

Even at 2-2 after two innings in game two, the Angels scored four runs on five singles and another two-RBI double from Allsbrook to edge into the lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, D'Arco drove in two more runs on her second appearance, and Kayla North scored Erica Occena in the next at-bat. Kaitlyn Sawyer entered to run for D'Arco at second base, and Brittany Bucklin drove her home on a sacrifice fly to advance Meredith's advantage. 

In the bottom of the frame, Lauren Marbrey dismissed the first two batters, and Courtney Saunders ended the inning at shortstop to finish off the sweep.

Marbrey recorded her sixth win allowing four hits, two earned runs, one walk, and a pair of strikeouts, and Janie Brothers earned the loss for Baldwin.

Box Score - Game 1

Box Score - Game 2