RALEIGH, N.C. - Shortstop Alex Warren, one of Meredith's (15-12, 13-8 USA South) three seniors celebrated in between Sunday's final regular season doubleheader, drove in the game winning runs as the Avenging Angels rallied in the eighth inning of game one to steal the 8-7 win from the visiting LaGrange Panthers (15-15, 10-12 USA South). The visitors cruised to an 8-1 win in game two to split the series.

The Avenging Angels advance to the USA South Softball Championships as the fourth seed with today's win. Round one of the tournament is slated to begin Friday, April 12, in Rocky Mount, and Meredith will face fifth-seeded Methodist at 9 a.m. at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. Link here for conference tournament details.

Meredith's Amanda White led off with a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to open the scoring in game one, and the Panthers answered with a run in the next frame.

After a scoreless fourth and fifth, LaGrange picked up two more runs to take a 3-1 advantage.

Both teams left runners stranded during the next two frames heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Senior Amanda Beirne led off with a single and the next two at-bats reached on a fielder's choice. Leah Friedman stole second and Warren drove her in with a single to left. Outfielder Ashley Green earned a RBI on the next play to tie the game 3-3 and force the extra inning.

The Panthers rallied in the top of the eighth and scored four runs on two hits for a 7-3 advantage.

Catcher Lorri Cole was placed on second in the bottom of the frame as the tiebreaker run for Meredith. Senior Sara Cranford singled to center to place runners on the corners for Mindi Stallings. She drove in Cole and forced a Panther pitching change.

Beirne loaded the bases on the next at-bat and moved the runners, and Cranford scored pulling Meredith to within two at 7-5. Friedman lined one to center to keep the runners moving and Stallings scored on the play.

LaGrange entered their third pitcher to try and shut down the Meredith bats, but Warren drilled one to the right field gap to score the game winning runs for the win.

Beirne struckout eight batters on the way to her 14th win on the season, and Kara Patterson took the loss for the visitors.

Meredith saw its only run in the first inning of the nightcap as Cole drove in Warren on a single to right.

The Panthers controlled the game the rest of the way, adding a pair of 2-RBI-homers in the top of the fifth.

Beirne posted the loss allowing five hits with two runs earned. Panther Dani Gravett collected her sixth win on the season.

Just before today's tennis and softball contests opened at Noon, Athletics Director Jackie Myers recognized seven Avenging Angels with the National Student-Athlete Day (NSAD) award in conjunction with NCAA Division III Week: Megan Amanatides, soccer; Caroline Cobb, volleyball; Sara Cranford, softball; Raven Gregory, basketball; Puja Patel, tennis; Katie Riggs, cross country; Andie Stuber, lacrosse.

NSAD celebrates student-athletes who achieve excellence in academics and athletics, while making significant contributions to their community. The unique Division III experience provides for passionate participation in a competitive athletic environment, in which student-athletes push themselves to excellence and build upon their academic success with new challenges and life skills. Each of the student-athletes recognized impact Meredith athletics and contribute significantly beyond the playing field in their pursuit of excellence.