Emily Hall pounded out five hits, scored two runs and knocked in five others to lead Mary Baldwin to a USA South softball doubleheader sweep at Meredith Saturday.  The Fighting Squirrels won the opener 3-0, then outlasted the Avenging Angels in the nightcap, 9-3.

The victory lifted MBU's overall season record to 19-13, equaling the third-best win total in team history (set in 2023).  The Fighting Squirrels also moved up to sixth place in the USA South standings with a 5-7 mark heading into next Saturday's (4/19) USA South DH in Staunton against North Carolina Wesleyan.

Hall plated two runs on an infield error in the second inning of the opener after MBU had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning to provide all the offense starting pitcher Emily McCreary needed.  McCreary blanked the hosts on five hits and no walks while fanning six to improve her record to 6-4.  Leanna Rankin had two of MBU's seven hits and scored a run while McKenzie Tillman had a hit, two walks and an RBI.

The nightcap opened with MBU scoring six runs in the second inning, including a three-run double to center by Hall after Allison Crum and Jenna Dimicelli stroked RBI base hits and Trinity Thomas forced another run home with a bases-loaded walk.  Meredith bounced back with five runs in the third inning, and the teams battled back-and-forth the rest of the way.  MBU, which never surrendered the lead but saw their advantage to a run twice late in the game, added insurance runs in the top of the sixth on RBI hits by Tillman and Cassidy Newcomb.

Tillman, who was the starting pitcher and improved her pitching record to 3-3, also had hits in both games and finished with four hits, two walks, two runs and four RBI.