College Softball Finals – Guilford 6 – 10, Meredith 5 – 0

RALEIGH, N.C.—Guilford College rallied from five runs down to pick up a 6-5 win in eight innings over Meredith College in game one. Guilford completed the Sunday afternoon doubleheader sweep in game two, 10-0, in five innings thanks to a complete-game, three-hit shutout performance from Ashley Boteler.

Rachel Howard propelled the Quakers’ offense in the first game, going three-for-three with three RBI. After the Avenging Angels brought in five runs in the bottom of the third inning, Howard put the Quakers on the board with a RBI single in the fourth. Emily VanHaneghan then reached first base on an errant throw from third, bringing home Howard and Morgan Myers (Winston-Salem, N.C./Parkland).

Howard would tie the game in the fifth on a two-RBI double to center field, adding to a game one performance where she reached base in all four plate appearances.

Autumn Yoder successfully moved Myers to third base on a sacrifice bunt in the extra inning, setting up VanHaneghan to drive in Yoder on a ground out for the game-winning run.

Brittany Donathan (2-0) (Archdale, N.C./Trinity) relieved Myers in the fifth inning, surrendering only one hit in four innings to pick up the win.

In the nightcap, the Quakers (7-1) used back-to-back Meredith errors to bring home three runs in the top of the third inning. Maggie Shaffer hit a two-RBI single to right field to put the Quakers on the board. Boteler then helped her own cause with an RBI-single to center, driving home Shaffer.

Guilford would take advantage of another Meredith error in the top of the fifth to spark a seven-run rally. Howard earned her fourth RBI of the day on a double to right field, starting the Quakers’ rally. Sarah Cutright then added a RBI-single, setting up Brooks Bray (Thomasville, N.C./Ledford) to bring home the second run of the inning on a RBI triple. Yoder followed up Bray’s extra-base hit with a RBI double. Allie Nicholson (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) capped off the Quakers rally with a two-RBI single down the left field line.

Boteler earned her first win of the year, striking out seven batters in five innings of work.

The Quakers travel to Rocky Mount, N.C. Wednesday, facing North Carolina Wesleyan College at 2 p.m.