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

Bryce Smith Garners USA South Rookie of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Softball catcher Bryce Smith garnered the Softball Rookie of the Week nod in the USA South weekly honors as announced Monday from the league office. This marks the first conference recognition for the freshmen student-athlete.

In a 3-1 week for the softball Avenging Angels, Smith hit for a combined 7-for-13 (.538) with a .923 slugging percentage, five runs scored, five RBI, two doubles, one home run, and one walk. Meredith split a doubleheader with cross-town rival William Peace midweek and swept Covenant Saturday afternoon.

The softball Angels travel to Virginia this weekend for doubleheaders versus Mary Baldwin Saturday, April 2 and Sunday at Ferrum.

USA South full release

Saunders/Smith Lead Softball in Sweep Over Scots

Courtney Saunders ready to deliver an RBI.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- In Saturday's USA South doubleheader the Meredith College softball team earned a sweep over the visiting Covenant Scots with a 9-8 win in game one and a 7-4 victory in the nightcap. Courtney Saunders and Bryce Smith combined for eight hits and nine RBI to lead the Avenging Angels on the day.

In game one Meredith held a 6-2 advantage heading into the sixth, but a five-run rally in the top of the frame edged the Scots ahead by one. Lauren Marbrey finally closed out the inning on a strikeout.

The Angels tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a double from Smith and precision hitting on a Sarah Watson sacrifice to advance the runner to third. Julia Allsbrook followed the plan and scored Smith on a sacrifice fly.

Covenant loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and the dp Shannon Schmitt hit a line drive to left to score Kasey Hart. Meredith Head Coach Kim Scavone appealed that the second base runner left early, and the Angels earned the third out on the double play. Scavone protested the scored run, but the failed effort left the Scots with an 8-7 advantage heading into the bottom of the inning.

With two outs on the board, Maria Annunziata put the tying run on base with a long single to the shortstop. The poised and experienced Saunders stepped up for a double to the right field gap to score Annunziata. Scavone subbed in Haley Ervin to run for Saunders, and Eran Artigues drove her home for the win.

Marbrey relieved Taylor Jackson during the Scot's sixth-inning rally to record her sixth win on the season. Marbrey faced seven batters to allow two hits, no earned runs and one strikeout. Covenant's Tyler Epes recorded the loss allowing 12 hits with seven earned runs and two strikeouts.

Brittany Bucklin kept the momentum going with a two-RBI double in the first inning of game two. In the bottom of the second, she stepped to the plate with the bases loaded to drive in Meredith's third run. Smith advanced the Angels' lead to four with a RBI-walk.

The Scots chipped away at their four-run deficit during the next two at-bats, but Saunders extended Meredith's advantage on a three-RBI dinger over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth.

Covenant scored twice more, but the Angels held on for the sweep.

Marbrey pitched a complete game in the nightcap to earn the win, and Covenant's Cris Gant recorded the loss.

Box Score - Game 1

Box Score - Game 2

Seventh Inning Rally Falls Short in Split with Pacers

Meredith College Sports Information Department

Sarah Watson at bat.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- After a 2-1 win over host William Peace in game one of Wednesday's USA South doubleheader, Meredith College softball suffered a disappointing 8-7 loss in the nightcap for a split.

Peace scored first in the bottom of the third of game one on a RBI-single. After a scoreless fourth, Sarah Watson led off for the Angels with her second home run on the season to tie the game. Kaitlyn Sawyer advanced on a single but was caught stealing second to clear the bases.

Brittany Bucklin scored the eventual game winner on her fifth career homer later in the inning to edge Meredith in front for good.

Taylor Jackson earned WPU's solo run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts, and Pacer Morgan Farmer recorded her third loss allowing seven hits with two earned runs, three walks, and five strikeouts.

The Pacers took an early 1-0 lead in game two on a double in the bottom of the first. The Angels' Eran Artigues drilled a ball over the fence in the top of the second but was stripped of her home run on an appeal from William Peace Coach Charlie Dobbins, who claimed she failed to touch home plate.

Meredith recovered from the disappointing call and loaded the bases in the top of the third. Erica Occena scored Bryce Smith on a single to left, and Courtney Saunders drove in Watson in the next at-bat to take a 2-1 lead.

William Peace regained the advantage in the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer and scored two more runs with a second home run in the next inning to extend their lead 5-2.

The Angels closed the gap with a run in each of the next two frames to trail by just one heading into the seventh.

With two outs on the board, Saunders doubled to right field. Bucklin drove in Saunders on a double to the same field to keep the Angels alive, and Maria Annunziata gave Meredith a two run advantage with her ninth home run on the season.

In the bottom of the frame, Peace led off with a single through the right side. A hard hit single to right center brought the go-ahead run to the plate, and Kelsey Durham tied the game on a tough fly ball to right. Durham jogged in for the win on a wild pitch to close out the split.

Lauren Marbrey faced 19 batters through 3.2 innings allowing five earned runs with three strikeouts. Jackson entered in relief in the bottom of the fourth and earned three runs on seven hits with one K for the loss. Kim Cook earned her fourth win for the Pacers.

Box Score - Game 1

Box Score - Game 2