Angels take two from Bishops in USA South softball action

Rocky Mount, NC - The Avenging Angels of Meredith College swept Wednesday afternoon's USA South softball doubleheader with North Carolina Wesleyan by 2-1 and 8-5 scores, respectively. The games served as the league openers for both squads and saw MC freshman Jordan Smith earn both wins in the circle. Senior Whitney Moshier (pictured) paced the Bishop offensive effort with three hits, two RBI, and a run scored over the two-game set.

In game one, Meredith got all the offense it would need in the top of the first when Kate Moye sent a two-out double into the gap in left center that plated Smith and Arielle Stout. Smith then did the rest on the mound, allowing just two hits over the first six innings of play and putting together a stretch of 15 straight retired batters.

The Bishops did, however, mount a rally in the seventh as Moshier led off the inning with a double to left field. One out later, fellow senior Payton Gordon drove her in with a single to right center and advanced to second on the throw home. With the tying runner on second and one down, Smith shut the door with back-to-back strikeouts to secure the 2-1 Angel win. She finished with nine K's in the game.

Unfortunately, NCWC freshman and current USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week Ashley Driver (3-3) came out on the losing end of the pitcher's dual. Driver allowed just two runs on six hits and struck out seven in the complete game effort.

In the second game, Wesleyan put up a three-spot in the bottom of the fourth to forge a 3-1 lead. All three runs came with two outs as sophomore Jessica Poindexter started the rally by drawing a walk. Three consecutive singles by Carla Pridgen, Alexis Gallop, and Jena McFadden led to NCWC's runs as Gallop scored Poindexter, Pridgen scored in the aftermath of Poindexter's collision at home, and McFadden scored Gallop.

Meredith (7-7, 2-0 USAC) later answered with five runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth to retake the lead, and two insurance runs in the seventh sent the Bishops into their final at-bat down 8-3.

Once again, Wesleyan rallied behind the bat of Moshier. McFadden led of the frame with a double off the fence in left, and two outs later, junior Kate Braun drew a walk. Moshier then blasted her first triple of the season to pull the Bishops to within three at 8-5, but Smith (4-2) again closed the door with a strikeout to end the game, earning the win in relief after tossing the final 3.1 innings.

Freshman hurler Brooke Davis suffered the loss for Wesleyan, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over 4.1 innings of work. Driver then allowed two runs in two innings before sophomore Kacie Brandes came on to get the final two outs.

Wesleyan (5-7, 0-2 USAC) next hosts Shenandoah University on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.

Return to Softball Main