RALEIGH, N.C. -- Thursday's USA South softball doubleheader versus Raleigh rival William Peace did not disappoint, as the Meredith College Angels swept the Pacers with help from 17 hits, eight strikeouts, and three dingers over the left field fence. Meredith leads the East Division, and WPU sits in sixth.

Game 1
Haley Ervin jump started the day leading off with a single, Kelsey Mabe followed with a walk, and both scored on a RBI-single from Erica Occena for a 2-0 Meredith lead through the next two innings.

The Pacers finally responded in the fourth with a pair of singles and moving both runners into scoring position. Kacy Haithcock drove in one, and an Avenging Angel bobble tied the game.

In the sixth stanza Julia Allsbrook advanced on a single, and Ervin beat out the defense for the second time on a bunt. An infield error loaded the bases, and Brittany Bucklin drove in all three on a grand slam to return the advantage to Meredith. Occena crushed her swing with a line drive to the left centerfield fence, and a Sarah Watson single scored the runner. Eran Artigues advanced on a single to force the Pacers hand.

After removing the starting pitcher with only two batters faced, Peace returned Lilianna Berber to the circle to try and tame the Angel bats. Rachel Peel stepped up for a single, but Watson was thrown out at home from right field. Artigues scored on a wild pitch with Allsbrook at the plate to push Meredith's advantage to six.

Taylor Jackson held the Pacers in the sixth, and Meredith advanced two runners in the bottom of the frame with walks. The center fielder mishandled the next play, and two Angels found home plate to end the game early with an eight-run differential.

Jackson struck out 8-of-27 batters faced, allowed six hits, earned one run, and walked two in her seventh season win. Berber's first inning replacement Courtney Smith recorded the loss for Peace, allowing nine hits with four earned runs, striking out two.

Game 2
The Angels carried the momentum into game two and scored five runs in the first inning. Mabe notched a RBI-single, scoring Occena, who advanced on a walk, on the play. She moved to third on a fly-out from Bucklin, and Annunziata found her way to second. A Watson grounder drove in Mabe, and Artigues put runners on the corners for the Angels. Katie Kepley stepped to the plate as the DP and drove in both runners with a three-RBI homer.

The defense left three Pacer runners on base in the top of the frame, and Bucklin advanced Meredith's lead to sixth in the bottom of the frame.

In the third William Peace scored their first run with a flurry of activity, leaving a runner on first. Haithcock ground into a double play, but a sloppy finish to the play allowed one more runner home.

Annunziata closed out the scoring in the fifth with a solo home run for the sweep.

Julia Cerasi faced 19 batters in her fourth win, and Savannah Patterson closed out the game for her first career save. Kelsey Durham took the loss for Peace.

Ervin led the day with three hits in three at-bats with three runs, all in game one. Bucklin's five runs batted in and the three from Kepley led the day, with Occena and Watson driving in two apiece.

The Avenging Angels remain home this weekend hosting USA South games Saturday and Sunday with Huntingdon and LaGrange, respectively, and both starting at Noon. Follow Meredith's recently updated live stream HERE with Bill Zeoli on the call.