>Site: 
Winston-Salem, N.C. | Blixt Field 

>Scores: 
Game 1: Salem 6, Oberlin 1
Game 2: Salem 2, Oberlin 1

>Records:     
Salem (5-11) / Oberlin (1-5)

>Next Games: 
Salem at Carolina U. | March 18 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem softball team wrapped up a brief two-day, four-game homestand by conducting a sweep of Oberlin at Blixt Field by scores of 6-1 (Game 1) and 2-1 (Game 2) on Sunday afternoon. 

The series sweep marked the first for Salem since downing Brevard on April 16, 2024. It is the first non-conference series sweep since defeating Livingstone on March 20, 2023, which coincidentally marked the last home series sweep. 

The Spirits moved to 5-11 on the season behind a series of performances from Riley Dennis, Kayla Dick and Reese Upton. With Dennis in the circle in the first game of the series, the Salem first year tossed a complete game two hitter, striking out seven batters along the way. At the plate, Dick combined for four hits, two RBI, a run scored and a triple. Upton notched two hits, three RBI and a double in a pair of contests. 

Another key performer for the Spirits was Isabella Morales. Morales, like Dennis, hurled a complete game for Salem in the circle, allowing one run on four hits to go along with three strikeouts. 

GAME 1 | Salem 6, Oberlin 1
W: Riley Dennis (3-5) / L: Hailey Alspach (1-2) 
Salem Leaders: Kayla Dick (2-4, 2 RBI, run, triple, SB), Carmen Duffey (2-3), Maleah Tate (2-3, run), Reese Upton (1-4, RBI), Olivia Porter (1-3, RBI), Riley Dennis (CG, 2 hits allowed, 1 run, 8 K's)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-Carmen Duffey had the first hit of the game for the Spirits, a single up the middle in the third inning. 
-Maleah Tate led off the sixth inning with a single to third and motored home on a triple down the left field line by Kayla Dick to even the score at 1-1. 
-Dick came home for the go-ahead run on a bunt single from Reese Upton. With Upton at second, following a steal, Olivia Porter scored her teammate for the 3-1 Salem lead with a single past second. 
-The Spirts capitalized on a bunt single by NeVaeha George, putting Porter in scoring position. Madison Long reached on a fielder's choice, which came as a result of a throwing error, allowing George and Porter to score for the 5-1 advantage. 
-Dick brought in the final run of the inning, in the form of Jelene Avila, with a single through the left side of the infield. 
-The Spirits put six runs across the plate in the home half of the sixth, finishing with eight runs as they sent 12 runners to the plate. 
-Riley Dennis fanned eight Yeomen batters over the course of the complete game two-hitter. 
-The top four sluggers in the Salem lineup accounted for five hits, four RBI and four runs scored. Meanwhile, the bottom two sluggers for the Spirits combined for four hits and a run scored. 

OBERLIN HIGHLIGHTS
-Oberlin capitalized on a Salem miscue in the top of the first inning, as Haley Alspach reached base and eventually scored on a wild pitch for the early 1-0 lead. 
-The Yeomen had seven straight batters retired, including four by strikeout, before double by Alexis Croatt put a runner in scoring position. Dennis kept Oberlein from scoring, fanning the next two batters in the inning, to keep the score at 1-0. 

GAME 2 | Salem 2, Oberlin 1
W: Isabella Morales (2-5) / L: Sophie Stone (0-2)
Salem Leaders: Reese Upton (1-3, 2 RBI, double), Maleah Tate (2-3, run), Kayla Dick (2-4), Isabella Morales (CG, 4 H, 1 R, 3 K's)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-The Spirits evened the game at one in the bottom of the third as Cree Bass reached base on a one-out walk. Maleah Tate and Kayla Dick both followed with singles. 
-With the bases loaded, Reese Upton sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Bass for the run, evening the game at 1-1. 
-Salem put two on with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. The first of those hits came from Dick, who moved to third on a double to centerfield by Reese Upton. 
-The Spirits had an opportunity to move in front in the sixth, as NeVaeha George reached on a walk. After moving to second on a Kiersten Nelson bunt, George was stranded for the go-ahead run.
-The Spirits scored their game-winning run in the seventh after Tate reached on a single to third base. After stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball, Upton scored Tate from third on a sacrifice fly. 

OBERLIN HIGHLIGHTS
-The Yeomen again put one run on the board in the first inning. Oberlin's Haley Alspach reached base on a single to third. After moving to third, Alspach scored the first run on a double to left centerfield by Maya Means. 
-With the game knotted at one-all, Oberlin's Alexis Croatt reached on a hit by pitch in the seventh. After moving to third on an infield throwing error, which put two in scoring position for the Yeomen. 
-Salem got two outs, along with a strikeout by Isabella Morales, to end the threat.