Rocky Mount, N.C. - Sophomore Ashley Tharrington collected five hits over two games, while senior Meredith Mills drove in both game-winning runs to lift North Carolina Wesleyan to a twinbill sweep of Southern Virginia to open the 2012 softball season on Tuesday at Edge Field. The Bishops took game one by a 4-3 score and held on for 5-4 victory in the nightcap.

In the opener, NCWC took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when freshman Logan Tollison ripped a two-out double to center field and later scored on a Tharrington single.  SVU plated a pair of runs in the fifth, but Wesleyan answered with an RBI-single by Amanda Warley that was followed by sac-fly RBIs by Paige Pritchett and Mills.

Up 4-2, sophomore Leanna Fann allowed one run in the seventh but shut the door on a comeback with a pop-up and strikeout to end the game. Fann (1-0) went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits and striking out four.

The second game saw the Bishops open up a 4-0 lead after five complete. The Knights, however, plated three runs in the sixth thanks to a triple, walk and two-run homer to open the inning.

Mills gave the Bishops an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI-double to left that scored Tharrington, and it would prove to be the game-winner.  SVU pulled to within 5-4 and had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, but freshman hurler Kelsi Bailey recorded a 1-3 groundout to end the game and threat.

Bailey (1-0) tossed seven complete, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and striking out six. Tharrington paced the offense with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate.

Wesleyan travels to Methodist University this weekend for the Monarchs' Early Bird Tournament in Fayetteville.