RALEIGH, N.C. - The Mary Baldwin softball team swept Friday's doubleheader at Meredith, winning the opener 12-0 and the second game 3-2.
The Fighting Squirrels struck early in the opener with four runs in the top of the first inning. A leadoff single by Leanna Rankin was followed by an Allison Crum single to left before a Hadley May 3-run home run gave MBU a 3-0 lead. Trinity Thomas then singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Resgan Frazier double to center to take a 4-0 lead.
MBU added a run in the third inning. The Squirrels loaded the bases on a walk to May, and singles by Thomas single and Sam Grimsley. Molly Thompson drew a bases-loaded walk to score the run.
MBU ended the game with a seven-run, fourth inning. The Squirrels took advantage Capitalizing of three Meredith errors, May's second homerof the game and base hits by Crum, Rankin, Thomas, and Olivia Gagne.
For MBU, Emily McCreery pitched five innings, limiting the Angels to just three hits.
The second game was a close affair with Squirrels striking first in th third inning with a two-out rally. Rankin's single to short was followed by a walk to Gagne. Crum plated both runners with a double, giving MBU a 2-0 lead.
TheAngels tied the game in the fifth and the contest moved to extra innings. The Squirrels scored in the righth when a single from Trinity Thomas drove in Emily Hall to put the pressure on the Meredith in the bottom of the inning. Meredith had a runner on third with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but McCreery struck out both batters to earn the save and secure the 3-2 win.
Starting pitcher Morgan Hughes threw for 4.2 innings, allowing only two earned runs and Molly Thompson came into relief keeping the Monarchs hitless in a clutch 2.1 innings.
At the plate, Thomas went 7-for-8 on the day and Rankin went 5-for-7.
Meredith (10-6) falls to fourth in the USA South standings as Mary Baldwin (7-5) sits in fifth place.
Mary Baldwin (7-5) is back in action Sunday (April, 23rd) when the Squirrels travel to play William Peace (5-7) for a doubleheader.
