MISENHEIMER, NC | Meredith College Softball turned the intensity up a notch for the USA South Tournament and handily beat Mary Baldwin 8-0 in five innings on Thursday. Savannah Talley led the Avenging Angels offense with a perfect day at the plate, 3-3, a double, and three RBIs.

QUOTING HEAD COACH KIM SCAVONE:
"The team showed up ready to compete today. We worked hard to prepare for our opponent and that was evident in today's box score. Kaylee had a great performance in the circle and our bats came alive early to give her run support. A few key plays on defense highlighted by Mariah Bell's diving catch in left center also played a big role in today's win."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Senior pitcher Kaylee Manning was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. Manning (7-8) allowed just three hits over five innings, striking out three and walking two in a 69-pitch effort that kept the Mary Baldwin bats quiet throughout.

Offensively, Meredith struck early and often, scoring in the second, third, and fifth innings. Savannah Talley led the Angels at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Ashbee Standridge added a two-run home run in the third, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

In the second inning, Talley's two-run double to right field opened the scoring, plating Tess Spangenburg and Kaydon Roberson. Standridge followed in the third with a towering homer to right, bringing in Sarah Manis to make it 4-0.

Meredith broke the game open in the fifth with a four-run surge. Avery Puryear doubled in a run before Talley and Mariah Bell each delivered RBI singles, with Bell driving in two to close out the game via run rule.

The Angels totaled 11 hits, with Bell (2-for-3) and Carson Griffith also contributing to the offensive effort. Meredith did not commit an error until the final frame, backing Manning with solid defense throughout the game.

UP NEXT:
Meredith will face the #1 seed Pfeiffer tomorrow at 2PM. The winner will advance to the finals in the first bracket on Saturday. Then the winner of each bracket will face off for the USA South Title in the best of three Championship series on Friday, May 9^th and Saturday, May 10^th.