Softball Splits With CNU, Takes #2 Seed in USA South

From Meredith Sports Information Department

USA South Conference regular season runner-ups!

Raleigh, N.C. - The Meredith softball team finished the season in second place in the USA South after a split with the first place Christopher Newport Captains on Saturday. Game one featured a dramatic 6-5 victory for Meredith (26-10, 12-6 USA South) in game one and the Captains (29-7, 15-3) evened the series taking game two 4-0 .  The win for Meredith was the first over the Captains since the Avenging Angels joined the USA South five years ago.  Meredith will be the second seed in the USA South tournament and will play the winner of #7 Averett vs. #10 Mary Baldwin on Friday April 13 at 1 p.m. in Burlington, N.C.

Game One: Meredith 6, Christopher Newport 5 - Emily Cooke started off the inning with a double that went over the center fielder's head and rolled to the fence.  Leah Friedman's base hit bunt moved Cooke to third and put runners on the corners.  Alex Warren's sacrifice fly to center scored Cooke.  One out hits by Amanda White and Lorri Cole loaded the bases.  A wild pitch by the Captains scored Friedman to give Meredith the 2-0 lead after the first inning.  

The Angels added three more runs in the second inning as a two out walk put Cooke on base.  A single by Friedman put two on and Warren knocked in Cooke with a single to left field.  White then singled to center filed to score both Warren and Friedman and gave Meredith the 5-0 lead after two innings.  The Captains answered with one in the third and four in the fifth to tie the game at 5-all.

The game remained tied at five as another dramatic walk off win was produced by the Avenging Angels.  White's leadoff blast to center field broke the deadlock and gave Meredith the 6-5 victory.  It's was White's sixth home run on the season and gave her the team lead on the year.

Amanda Beirne picked up her ninth win in the relief appearance as she pitched 2.2 innings, striking out three.

Game Two:  Christopher Newport 4, Meredith 0:  The Captains held Meredith in check in the second game with the 4-0 win.  The Captains put across two runs each in the third and sixth innings and held the Avenging Angels to four hits.  White and Cole had doubles for Meredith.  Beirne pitched the complete game and picked up the loss as she gave up 12 hits and four strikeouts.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2