RALEIGH, N.C. -- In Wednesday's midweek USA South doubleheader the Meredith College softball Angels forced a split with the East Division's top ranked Pfeiffer University. Sarah Gundlach pitched a three-hit shutout for a 2-0 Angels win in game one, but the Falcons rallied for a 5-1 game two finish.

Game 1
After an infield misstep to open the play day, Meredith's defense played clean through the fifth to hold Pfeiffer. With two outs in the second, Bryce Smith threw to Madison Hamilton to pick off the lead runner and close out the frame. Gundlach tossed to just six batters through the next two innings to bring Charley Cox to the plate for a leadoff single in the fourth.

Smith moved the runner with a hit through the right side, and Pfeiffer changed pitchers. Cox advanced to third on a fly ball from Susanne Taylor, and Cox stole home with Anna Goldman at bat before Smith was caught at third to end the inning.

The first three Falcon batters went down in the fifth, including a leadoff strikeout from Gundlach. Cecilia Coleman drilled a two-out double to left center in the bottom of the stanza and moved to third on a hit from Kelsey Mabe. Hamilton singled in the next at bat to score Coleman before the Falcons shut down the play at home.

Pfeiffer put two on in the sixth, but Meredith finished off the frame with a pair of forced outs at second to remain in the lead 2-0. Gundlach earned her second K in the seventh, and the Avenging Angels held off the visitors for the win.

Kyndle Wallace pitched the fourth and fifth innings to record the loss for the Falcons.

Game 2
Meredith opened game two with Mabe advancing to third in time for Smith to drive her home with another single to right.

Pfeiffer's first baseman Reece Davis led off in the second with a solo home run over the left field fence, and the Falcons followed in the third with three more runs on three hits and an error. The Avenging Angels managed to strand two Pfeiffer runners, but the damage was done.

Taylor relieved Payton Aldridge in the circle in the fourth, but the Falcons hit two more to score a fifth run.

MCSB picked up a single from pinch hitter Savannah Pierce in the fifth, and Smith advanced to first on her third hit on the day before a double play ended the sixth. Alyssa Drake hit a one-out single in the seventh, but the Pfeiffer defense finished off the Angels for the win.

Aldridge earned just one run in five hits, walking two, and Taylor allowed five hits, striking out one with one walk and one earned run. Kiana Millsaps earned the win with a complete seven pitched for the Falcons.

The Avenging Angels face off with Methodist Saturday before heading to Newport News to match-up once more with Christopher Newport, now ranked first in the latest national poll.