VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Meredith College softball opened the 2021 season with a two-game series versus fourth-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University. The Marlins captured game one 9-1 in five innings and shut out the Angels 6-0 to finish off the day.

Game one

Freshman Savannah Talley notched the lone hit in the opener with a single to right field in the second inning. She drove in Susanne Taylor, who led off the inning with a walk. Alyssa Drake moved Taylor to second with another walk that setup Talley for the RBI.

Hannah Weigle faced 16 batters in the first three innings, allowing seven of VWU's 11 hits with three runs, striking out one. Brie Caldwell closed out the game, allowing six runs on four hits with a pair of walks and one strikeout. Hannah Hull earned the win for the Marlins with a complete game, striking out seven Avenging Angels.

Game two

Talley came up big in the second inning with a lead-off double but was left on third at the end of the frame. In the fifth Rachel Johnson ripped one down the left field line. The Angels advanced two more runners to first but left two scoreless to close out the inning.

Anna Goldman picked up the last base for Meredith with a single to left center in the sixth. She picked up an extra base but was left at second.

Sarah Gundlach took the loss in the second game, allowing four runs on four hits in four innings, striking out one and walking three. Danielle Hunt relieved Gundlach in the fifth and allowed two runs on five hits. Marlin Emily Seal claimed the win for Welseyan with a five-inning effort, allowing two of Meredith's three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Sofia Eskola allowed Meredith's third hit in the sixth with Karlee Fretz and Julia Piotrowski wrapping up in the seventh.

MCSB's next outing is slated for Sunday, March 7, at Emory & Henry.