RALEIGH, N.C.- The Shenandoah Softball team was finally able to open its season Friday morning at the Meredith College Tournament, but fell to Meredith, 13-5, and Peace, 11-3, in its two games.

After Meredith took an early lead with a single run in the bottom of the first inning, the Hornets (0-2) tied it in the top of the second as junior Katey Wilson (Amissville, Va./Rappahannock) trotted home on freshman Karen Hild's (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) single. Unfortunately for SU, this would be the high water mark as the Angels took advantage of a combined five hits in the third and fourth innings to bust the game open with six runs.

Senior Nikki Braithwaite (Cross Junction, Va./James Wood) and freshman Caroline Crocker (Stanardsville, Va./William Monroe) each had two RBI for the Hornets. Crocker took the loss on the mound.

It was more of the same in the second game of the day for the Hornets as future Dixie Conference member Peace College took an 11-3 victory.

The two teams traded single runs in the initial two innings before the Pride took a lead it would not relinquish in the third with two runs on one hit and an error. Shenandoah was able to mount a small rally two frames later when Jen Jones (Radiant, Va./Madison) led off with a single, Hild walked and Gina Riemenschneider (Winchester, Va./James Wood) plated Jones with a fielder's choice that retired Hild. The rally basically died here; Riemenschneider was able to score one batter later as a result of a PC fielding error but this would complete the Hornets scoring.

Complete box scores and plays by play from both games can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/sb/2003/teamstat.htm 

Shenandoah completes play at the tournament tomorrow morning with consolation round play.