DANVILLE, Va. - The Meredith College softball team battled through a competitive nonconference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Averett University. The Avenging Angels dropped a pair of close contests to the Cougars—2-1 in an eight-inning international tiebreaker in game one and 7-6 in game two—at Cougar Field in Danville, Va. Averett, now a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), was previously a conference rival of Meredith in the USA South Athletic Conference.
Game One: Meredith 1, Averett 2 (8 innings)
A tightly contested pitcher's duel went into the eighth inning before Averett secured a 2-1 win in international tiebreaker format. The Cougars pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single after a sacrifice bunt moved the placed runner to third.
Meredith tied the game 1-1 in the top of the sixth. After Tess Spangenburg reached on a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Laycie Eastwood reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Spangenburg to score. The Avenging Angels threatened multiple times, collecting six hits in the contest, but were unable to capitalize late.
Lillie Davis went the distance in the circle, allowing just two runs—both unearned—on five hits over 7.1 innings while striking out four.
GAME NOTES
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Meredith recorded six hits, led by two from Tess Spangenburg.
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Emilee Lewis doubled down the left field line in the fifth inning.
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Morgan Knight added a bunt single and stolen base.
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The game marked Meredith's first extra-inning contest of the season.
Game Two: Meredith 6, Averett 7
In the nightcap, Meredith mounted a late rally but fell just short in a 7-6 decision. Averett built an early lead, plating two runs in the first and adding insurance across the middle innings.
The Avenging Angels answered throughout the game, including RBI efforts from Kaydon Roberson and Ashbee Standridge. Standridge delivered a solo home run to left field in the seventh to spark Meredith's comeback attempt.
Trailing 7-2 entering the final frame, Meredith erupted for four runs on four hits in the seventh inning. Following Standridge's homer and a Tess Spangenburg double, Anna Morgan Armstrong delivered a pinch-hit RBI single that scored two runs after a fielding error extended the play. Gracie Ritchie later added an RBI fielder's choice to pull Meredith within one. The Angels brought the tying run to base, but Averett secured the final out to seal the sweep.
GAME NOTES
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Meredith totaled 11 hits in game two.
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Ashbee Standridge went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
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Tess Spangenburg finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
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Rylee Meyer recorded two hits and a stolen base.
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Meredith scored four runs on four hits in the seventh inning to nearly complete the comeback.
Meredith returns to action on Sunday with another road trip, traveling to Ashland, Va. The Avenging Angels will open the day at 1:15 p.m. against SUNY New Paltz before closing out the afternoon at 3:30 p.m. against host Randolph-Macon College.
