From Meredith Sports Information Department, March 15, 2015
MARYVILLE, Tenn. - The Meredith College softball team collected a pair of USA South wins Sunday afternoon versus the Maryville Scots. Beginning with a 9-5 victory in game one, the Avenging Angels shut out the Scots in game two to finish off the doubleheader sweep 5-0.
Rookie pitcher Taylor Jackson pitched a no-hitter through four innings in game one, and Meredith outhit the Scots 16-5 to finish off the win. The Angels scored four runs in the first inning of game two to set the pace for the win.
Amanda White led all with six hits in eight attempts on the day, to go along with three RBI and a pair of doubles in game one. Brittany Bucklin, Eran Artigues and Maria Annunziata recorded three hits apiece in game one, and Annunziata tallied three RBI. Caitlyn Hogg led Maryville with three hits on the day, including a pair of home runs in game one.
Jackson allowed four earned runs on seven hits with 13 strikeouts on the day to collect a pair of wins in two complete games pitched. Lexie Randolph took the loss for the Scots in game one and Kayla Aloisi recorded the second.
Jackson jumpstarted game one for Meredith to set up a strong frame in the fifth for the Angels' bats. Back-to-back doubles from Artigues and Annunziata combined with singles from White and Saunders to score three runs to advance Meredith's lead to five.
A solo home run from Hogg kept the Scots in the mix, but the Angels scored three more on five hits in the seventh to extend their advantage to 9-2. Hogg scored three more runs on her second homer in the bottom of the frame, but the Angels's defense finished off the Scots for the win.
Meredith kept the momentum going scoring four runs in the first inning of game two. A pair of Maryville miscues advanced Sarah Watson and Kayla North, and White scored both on a double to left center.
Katlyn Johnson singled up the middle and scored two more thanks to help from an outfield misstep. Meredith scored one more in the fifth and the defense remained perfect to wrap up the shut out for the win.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
Maryville College write-up
Maryville College mistakes prove costly as Meredith sweeps DH
Maryville fell behind early, eventually showed signs of life but missed several opportunities Sunday as Meredith College rode early leads and swept the USA South Athletic Conference doubleheader below Lloyd’s Beach.
“I told the team after the game that you can’t play from behind,” Maryville College softball coach Leah Kelly told The Daily Times. “Our hitters just didn’t adjust, and when we did, it was way too late, so you can’t play from behind and win ball games.”
Taylor Jackson (W, 10-2), who worked two complete games, struck out 13 and held Maryville (3-9, 2-4 USAC) hitless for 5.2 innings of the first game before pitching a three-hit shutout in the second game.
“(Taylor) is doing a great job for us,” Meredith coach Kim Scavone said. “We had a couple injuries to other pitchers this year, so a lot of the responsibility right now is on Taylor. I think she did a better job in the second game conserving her pitch count and not getting behind in the count, and to come back from five runs to not give up any shows that she has a lot of confidence and a good defense behind her.”
Meredith 9, Maryville 5: Meredith (11-3, 5-1 USAC) wasted little time taking the lead early, as Erica Occena drew a leadoff walk and later scored when Amanda White singled up the middle. Eran Artigues singled to left to bring home Brittany Bucklin for the Avenging Angels’ third consecutive hit and a 2-0 lead before Maria Annunziata, who finished 3-for-4, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
“I told the team after the game that you can’t play from behind,” Maryville College softball coach Leah Kelly told The Daily Times. “Our hitters just didn’t adjust, and when we did, it was way too late, so you can’t play from behind and win ball games.”
Taylor Jackson (W, 10-2), who worked two complete games, struck out 13 and held Maryville (3-9, 2-4 USAC) hitless for 5.2 innings of the first game before pitching a three-hit shutout in the second game.
“(Taylor) is doing a great job for us,” Meredith coach Kim Scavone said. “We had a couple injuries to other pitchers this year, so a lot of the responsibility right now is on Taylor. I think she did a better job in the second game conserving her pitch count and not getting behind in the count, and to come back from five runs to not give up any shows that she has a lot of confidence and a good defense behind her.”
Meredith 9, Maryville 5: Meredith (11-3, 5-1 USAC) wasted little time taking the lead early, as Erica Occena drew a leadoff walk and later scored when Amanda White singled up the middle. Eran Artigues singled to left to bring home Brittany Bucklin for the Avenging Angels’ third consecutive hit and a 2-0 lead before Maria Annunziata, who finished 3-for-4, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Bucklin led off the third with a triple to deep right which barely stayed in the park but then reached home on a wild pitch for a 3-1 lead.
Meredith extended the lead in the fifth, putting together four straight hits facing two outs. Artigues and Annunziata each hit an RBI double and Courtney Saunders singled to right to bring home Annunziata and build a 6-1 cushion.
The Angels added three more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Annunziata and Alyssa D’Arco.
Meredith extended the lead in the fifth, putting together four straight hits facing two outs. Artigues and Annunziata each hit an RBI double and Courtney Saunders singled to right to bring home Annunziata and build a 6-1 cushion.
The Angels added three more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Annunziata and Alyssa D’Arco.
Maryville’s Caitlyn Hogg, who finished 2-for-3 with both hits carrying for home runs, blasted a three-run shot to left to keep the Lady Scots alive with no outs in the seventh, but Maryville couldn’t capitalize on Tiffany Brand’s single.
Hogg crushed a solo shot to center for her first home run and the Lady Scots’ first hit in the fifth. The senior scored in the first by reaching home on a throwing error by the catcher attempting to catch Megan Mihaliak stealing second.
Meredith 5, Maryville 0: Maryville couldn’t get out of its own way in the first inning, as the Lady Scots committed four errors and subsequently allowed four unearned runs. Amanda White hit a two-RBI single to left and Katlyn Johnson hit an RBI single up the middle, but White also scored for a 4-0 lead on Maryville’s fourth error.
“We lost the game in the first inning,” Kelley said. “Our pitchers pitched great, but our hitters couldn’t string hits together and our defense didn’t make the plays. If we make those simple routine plays, it’s 0-0 and we have a chance in the game.”
The Lady Scots, who stranded 10 batters in the game, left runners on second and third in the first inning and missed an opportunity in the second with the bases loaded.
Eran Artigues added an RBI single in the fifth to round home White, who got on base with a double to right.
Maryville again had runners on second and third in the fifth after a double by Kazdyn Cooper, but again the Lady Scots could not take advantage.
Hogg crushed a solo shot to center for her first home run and the Lady Scots’ first hit in the fifth. The senior scored in the first by reaching home on a throwing error by the catcher attempting to catch Megan Mihaliak stealing second.
Meredith 5, Maryville 0: Maryville couldn’t get out of its own way in the first inning, as the Lady Scots committed four errors and subsequently allowed four unearned runs. Amanda White hit a two-RBI single to left and Katlyn Johnson hit an RBI single up the middle, but White also scored for a 4-0 lead on Maryville’s fourth error.
“We lost the game in the first inning,” Kelley said. “Our pitchers pitched great, but our hitters couldn’t string hits together and our defense didn’t make the plays. If we make those simple routine plays, it’s 0-0 and we have a chance in the game.”
The Lady Scots, who stranded 10 batters in the game, left runners on second and third in the first inning and missed an opportunity in the second with the bases loaded.
Eran Artigues added an RBI single in the fifth to round home White, who got on base with a double to right.
Maryville again had runners on second and third in the fifth after a double by Kazdyn Cooper, but again the Lady Scots could not take advantage.
