RALEIGH, N.C. -- With a 2-1, 8-inning thriller over the visiting Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels, Meredith College softball clinched the USA South East Division Regular Season Championship. Rookie Angel Myah Morse pitched a no-hitter in the nightcap to finish off Baldwin 5-0 for the sweep. Senior Alyssa D'Arco was recognized in between games for her four-year career and commitment to Meredith.

As the division's top seed, Meredith will host six-seed William Peace Saturday, April 8, in the first two games in a best-of-three series. Game three is slated for Sunday, if necessary. Follow the action live HERE. Admission will be charged ($6 adults; $2 students, seniors, children) both days.

The top-six teams in each division advance to round-one action. Winners advance to a double-elimination tournament at Shuford Softball Complex in LaGrange, Georgia, beginning Thursday, April 13, as part of the USA South Spring Festival.

Game 1
After four scoreless innings with a combined five runners left stranded, Baldwin finally scored with a sacrifice fly to end the drought. Meredith put runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the frame but left both runners on base.

Taylor Jackson managed MBU on the next at-bat to give her team another chance to recover. Sarah Watson and Charley Cox led off with a pair of singles, and an infield error with Rachel Peel at the plate scored Watson to tie the game.

Jackson struck out two Squirrels in the top of seven, and Brittany Bucklin handled the leadoff to send the Angels back to the dugout for another try.

Once again, Meredith advanced two runners to second and third with just one out, but a pair of fly balls extended the game into extra innings.

The international tiebreaker rule placed Baldwin's Pattie Pleasants on second, and she advanced to the corner on a passed ball. Meredith's defense handled the next three batters to hold the visitors.

Eran Artigues was placed on second for Meredith in the bottom of the frame, and Peel moved her to third with a groundout. Julia Allsbrook scored Artigues with a RBI-single for the win.

Jackson earned her 10th season win allowing one hit, one earned run, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Baldwin's Courtney Gordon entered in the eighth for the loss.

Game 2
Myah Morse struck out the first three batters she faced to start game two, and Haley Ervin led off with a bunt single in the bottom of the frame. Watson followed with a RBI-triple, and Bucklin advanced Meredith's lead to two with a RBI-single.

The Avenging Angels repeated their efforts in the fifth with an Ervin bunt single and a Watson hit. Bucklin earned the RBI and scored in the next at-bat with help from an unforced Baldwin error to secure the sweep for the Angels.

Morse struck out five with two walks, and Gordon earned her second loss on the day for Baldwin.

Tournament Website | Tournament Bracket | Spring Festival Site