VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. | Meredith Softball faced Virginia Wesleyan, the eighth ranked team in the nation, in their season opener. A tough day at the plate for the Avenging Angels resulted in the loss. The Marlins took game one 11-1 and game two 9-0.

QUOTING HEAD COACH KIM SCAVONE:
"Today showed us the things we need to improve on to get ready for our conference opponents. That's why we schedule nationally ranked teams. You can learn a lot in just one day about what is working and what isn't. The new squad has a lot of talent, and it was great to see a few of our newcomers step up in their first collegiate game."
 
GAME ONE
SCORING

• Olivia Knight's double to left center scored the third run of the first inning for Virginia Wesleyan. The Marlins would tack on another run to end the first.
• In the bottom of the third, Haley Sadler doubled to right field, driving in a run and the Marlins added another run on a sac fly from Julia Piotrowski to take the 6-0 lead.
• Karley Beltran roped a single to left that drove in two runs and capped off a five run fourth inning for Virginia Wesleyan.
• The Avenging Angels scored in the top of the fifth. Morgan Knight mashed a double down the left field line. Abby Fowler stepped up with Knight in scoring position and hit a double to right that drove in Knight.
• Virginia Wesleyan won game one, 11-1.

 
HITTING

• Sarah Manis and Avery Puryear each recorded a hit.
• Fowler and Knight hit back-to-back doubles for Meredith
• Fowler had the only RBI for the Avenging Angels
• Olivia Knight led the Marlins with two hits and two RBIs.

 
PITCHING

• Lillie Davis got the first start of the season for Meredith. She threw three innings and recorded two strikeouts.
• Rhyleigh Horne came in and recorded two outs and Leila Slater faced two batters and got an out.
• Emma Adams got the start and the win for Virginia Wesleyan. She pitched three innings, struck out five batters, and only allowed one hit.

 
 
 
GAME TWO
SCORING

• Pollack and Adams dominated the first inning for Virginia Wesleyan. Pollack hit an RBI double, and Adams launched a two-run homer over the right field fence. Later in the inning, Piotrowski hit an RBI single up the middle to put the Marlins ahead 5-0.
• Virginia Wesleyan added four more runs in the third inning and ultimately won the game 9-0

 
HITTING

• Kailey Hicks nailed a hard single to right field in her first collegiate at bat.
• Mackenzie Myers and Piotrowksi both had two hits and an RBI for VWU.
• Emma Adams had two hits (2B, HR) and two RBIs for the Marlins.

 
PITCHING

• Kaylee Manning got the start for Meredith and threw two and two-thirds innings
• Jammie Wrenn stepped into the circle in the bottom of the third. She pitched one and a third innings, recorded two strikeouts, and forced two fly outs.
• Lauren Bible picked up the win for the Marlins. She worked four innings, faced 11 batters, recorded two strikeouts, and allowed one hit.

 
UP NEXT:

• Softball hits the road to face Guilford College, another ODAC opponent, on Sunday, February 23^rd. Game one starts at noon with game two following after.