RALEIGH, NC – The WPU Softball Team launched grand slams in the sixth inning of both games this afternoon, as the Pacers came back to beat Meredith in game one, 7-5, before holding on for a 6-4 win in game two.
The Pacers improve their record to 10-7-1 overall and move into second place in the USA South standings with a 7-3 record in conference play. WPU was picked to finish ninth in the preseason coach's poll. The Avenging Angels are 12-10 and 6-6 in the USA South having lost seven straight after Sunday.
Game One: William Peace 7, Meredith 5
Meredith scored a run in the first, but WPU evened things up in the second, as Morgan Bryant singled up the middle and eventually scored on Lindsey Wiggins' RBI single down the left field line.
Wiggins singled to lead off the top of the fourth, moved up on a bunt single from Caroline Womble and came home to make it 2-1, as Brandi Stamey singled through the right side. The Avenging Angels answered in the bottom half of the inning though, plating a pair of runs to recapture the lead, 3-2.
With two outs in the sixth, WPU loaded the bases, as Morgan Farmer singled, Michaela Fox walked and Casey Taylor singled through the right side. The Pacers benefitted from an error committed by the third baseman, which scored Farmer and kept the inning alive.
Freshman Heather McLean entered the game as a pinch hitter and made head coach Charlie Dobbins look like a genius, blasting a grand slam to dead center for a 7-3 Pacers lead. Meredith scored two runs in their final at bat, but the Pacers held on for the victory.
Lauren Martin started for WPU and allowed three runs on six hits in four innings pitched before being lifted in favor of Farmer. Farmer (4-4) picked up the win, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and a pair of strikeouts in three innings of work.
At the plate, Wiggins went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while McLean came through in the clutch with four RBI on her second home run of the year.
Taylor Jackson (9-8) was pinned with the loss, surrendering seven runs (two earned) in seven innings pitched. Four different Meredith batters registered multiple hits.
Game Two: William Peace 6, Meredith 4
Womble singled and scored on Farmer's RBI single up the middle in the the first. Farmer scored to make it 2-0, thanks to another inning-extending error.
The scoring came to a halt, until the Avenging Angels got a run back in the fifth, but WPU extended their lead with four runs in the top half of the sixth. It was Wiggins this time with the heroics, as she connected for a grand slam and her team leading third home run of the year, putting the Pacers ahead, 6-1. Ragan Taylor was hit by a pitch, Morgan Bryant doubled and Heather Mclean drew a walk to load them up.
Once again, Meredith put up a fight with runs in their final two at-bats, but Heather Dindinger (3-3) was able to close it out, going the distance to earn the win. Dindinger gave up four runs on 10 hits, two walks and two strikeouts in her second complete game outing of the season.
Michelle Sheldon-Gregorio collected a pair of hits for WPU and scored a run, while Wiggins' shot proved to be the difference in the game.
Amanda White (1-2) allowed six runs (five earned) and seven hits in a complete game effort. At the plate, Brittany Bucklin and Eran Artiques both went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The WPU Softball Team returns to action this Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader at Salem College.
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