RALEIGH, N.C. --- An undefeated record for Virginia Wesleyan College's softball Marlins remained in shipshape after Tuesday's non-conference doubleheader at Meredith College.

To be more precise, it was in "Shippshape" as sophomore saver Mary Shipp (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) entered to pitch in a very intense situation in the bottom of the second game.  The host Avenging Angels had already cut VWC's 6-2 lead to 6-5 and had a runner at first base and no outs.

Shipp, who exhibited her skills several times during VWC's 2013 run through the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and NCAA tournaments, came up big once again for the Marlins.  She struck out the first batter she faced, got a pop up for out two from the second batter, and drew a routine out with the third batter, who hit back to Shipp for the throw to first to end the game.

Not only was it the first save of the season for Shipp, but it also maintained Virginia Wesleyan's undefeated status as the Marlins recorded the 6-5 thriller to go along with a 3-1 win in the first game.  The Marlins are now 6-0, while Meredith drops to 2-4.

VWC appeared to be headed to almost certain victory in the second game when the Marlins scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to increase their lead to 6-2. Sophomore Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville) led off the inning with a double. Meredith recorded back-to-back outs, but senior Megan Zahnd (Chesapeake/Grassfield) belted an RBI-single through the right side.  Senior Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) singled to move Zahnd who scored when sophomore Kayla Malkos (Roanoke/Cave Spring) singled to right.

Meredith did not fold however, as Katlyn Johnson (Four Oaks, N.C./South Johnston) singled and Leah Friedman (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) reached base on an error.  Ashley Green (Asheville, N.C./T.C. Roberson) stepped up to the plate and smashed a three-run home run that pulled the Angels within striking distance of a major upset win.  After Amanda White (Wilmington, N.C./John T. Hoggard) drew a walk, Shipp entered the game to pitch and that was where the rally ended for Meredith.

VWC took a 1-0 lead in the game and pushed out to a 4-0 advantage with a three-run second inning, highlighted by a two-run Higginbotham triple to right center field. She scored on a Malkos single to left center.

Meredith closed the gap with two runs in the bottom of the same inning, helped by three hits, including a two-run single up the middle by Alyssa D'Arco (Raleigh, N.C./Garner).

VWC had chances to break the game open in the enusing innings, but could not find the big hits until the seventh.  The Marlins left three runners stranded in the third, and two in the fourth and sixth innings.

Virginia Wesleyan out-hit Meredith 10-9, led by sophomore Coutney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove), Higginbotham, and Malkos with two hits each.  Whitney Williams (Hurdle Mills, N.C./Person), Macy Allen (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield), and D'Arco had two hits each for Meredith.

Junior Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods) improved to 3-0 with the pitching win.  She struck out four and gave up three walks, nine hits, and four earned runs in six innings. Taylor Lynn Moore (Williamston, N.C./South Creek) took the loss. She pitched two innings before being relieved by Amanda Beirne (Belhaven, N.C./Northside).

Game one was a little simpler for the Marlins, despite falling behind 1-0 after two innings. VWC matched that run in the top of the third with a single score.  Senior Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) drew a walk to lead off, moved to second on a Higginbotham single, and took third on a Bogan sacrifice. She scored when Season Dailey (Norfolk/Virginia Beach Frank W. Cox) reached base on a Meredith error.

The Marlins took the lead with a two-run fourth inning, scoring twice with two outs.  Bogan doubled to score Malkos and Galvin.  Galvin opened the inning with a walk and Malkos followed her with a single.  Meredith recorded two outs before Bogan belted the double.

Senior pitcher MacKenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange) and the VWC defense took over after that, retiring the Angels 1-2-3 in the third, fourth, and sixth innings.  Meredith was limited to a single in the fifth and another in the seventh.

Creech improved to 3-0 in the circle, striking out five batters and allowing just three hits and one earned run.  Beirne, a graduate student who was Meredith's top pitcher last season, striking out 144 batters, fanned six Marlins, walked four, and surrendered six hits and two earned runs.

Higginbotham and Malkos led VWC hitting with two each.  Williams recorded two hits to lead Meredith.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition Friday, Feb. 28, in its Beach Blast tournament at Princess Anne Park.  The Marlins will take on Catholic University at 3 p.m. and Stevenson University at 5 p.m. on Friday.  On Saturday, March 1, the Marlins will face Eastern Connecticut State University at noon and Wesley College at 2 p.m.  Twenty-nine colleges and universities are competing in the annual event, one of the largest intercollegiate softball tournaments in the nation.

--AMDG--