LAGRANGE, Ga. -- The #1 East Meredith College softball Angels gave up a 3-0 lead in the third and left the winning run on base in the seventh to fall 5-4 to the #3 East Ferrum Panthers in Thursday's USA South Tournament action. Meredith must now battle up through the losers bracket beginning with West #3 Huntingdon Friday at 10 a.m.

Haley Ervin earned Meredith's 1st-of-11 hits and stole second in the bottom of one. Sarah Watson's fielder's choice put Ervin in motion, who advanced home with help from an infield bobble on the play.

Taylor Jackson struck out two Panthers in the second, and the Avenging Angels returned to the dugout. Maria Annunziata benefited from an unforced Panther error, and Rachel Peel scored the runner with a double to left. Julia Allsbrook moved Peel to the corner with a single, and Erica Occena found the gap through the left side to score Peel to advance the Angels lead to 3-0.

Ferrum loaded the bases in the third, and Claire Harris ripped a double to left field to score all three for the Panthers to even the score.

Watson singled in the bottom of the frame but was thrown out as part of a double play to end the inning. Neither team scored in the fourth, and Julia Cerasi, who entered for Jackson in the previous frame, handled the Panthers in the fifth.

Kelsey Mabe led off with a single in the bottom of the inning, and Katie Kepley and Bucklin moved her to third. Watson picked up a RBI-single on the next play to edge the Angels back in front.

Cerasi struck out the last out with the bases loaded to hold Ferrum in the sixth, but Meredith's only runner in the bottom of the frame was picked off at first to leave the Angels with a one run advantage.

With two outs on the Panthers in the seventh, Lois Carpenter hit deep ball to left field to tie the game. Carpenter scored on a RBI-single from Ferrum's pitcher in the next at-bat to push the Panthers out front by one.

Courtney Rudd entered to pitch for Ferrum in the seventh and picked up two quick outs on the Avenging Angels. But Kepley and Bucklin notched back-to-back singles to keep Meredith alive. Watson loaded the bases with a walk, but the Panthers finished off the game with a fly ball for the win.

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