RALEIGH, N.C. - Shenandoah University took a serious hit to its
hopes for a USA South Conference regular season softball title by
being swept Friday afternoon at Meredith College.
Shenandoah (12-9-1, 4-3 USA South) saw Meredith (18-10, 8-4)
take 4-3 and 5-0 wins to sweep the Hornets for the first-time ever.
Game one was particularly heartbreaking as SU held a 3-1 lead in
the eighth inning only to see the Avenging Angels rally to tie
the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the frame.
Down to her last strike, starting pitcher Amanda Beirne
laced a game-tying single to right with two outs to give her club
new life.
After the Hornets squandered a second and third, one-out
situation in the ninth, MC combined an infield single and a
sacrifice fly to score the placed runner with the game-winning run.
Sophomore Brooke Over (6-5) took
the loss after allowing four runs (only one earned) on seven hits
and two walks in 8 2/3. She struck out seven.
Shortstop Jolisa Jones was 3
for 4 to lead Shenandoah at the plate.
SU managed just one hit, a fourth inning single to center by Ashley
Plaugher, in the second game.
Amanda
Litwin (6-4) pitched a complete game, having up five
earned runs on eight hits and one walk against three strikeouts.
The Hornets complete this weekend trip with a USA South
Conference doubleheader at Greensboro Saturday afternoon.
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