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

>Scores: 
Game 1: Methodist 6, Salem 0
Game 2: Salem 7, Methodist 6 (8 innings)

>Records:     
Salem (9-29, 2-16 USA South) / Methodist U. (13-23, 6-10 USA South)

>Next Games: 
FINAL GAME OF 2025 SEASON

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem softball team closed out the 2025 season, along with the careers of three seniors—Cree Bass, Lauryn Fisher and Kat Price—with a doubleheader split against USA South Conference rival Methodist at Blixt Field on Saturday, April 26th. 

The Monarchs earned a 6-0 victory in game one of the series, but Salem retaliated with a 7-6 triumph in the eighth inning of game two to close out the season with nine wins. The dramatic game two victory came after Price put Salem ahead in the fifth and Fisher delivered the walk-off single to second, scoring Kayla Dick from third for the game-winning run. 

In the first inning of game one, Methodist's Hannah Lovick reached base on a leadoff walk and scored two batters later on a two-run blast over the left field wall by Alyssa Rivas. That blast to left set the tone for the Monarch offense, while Kiersten Margoupis fanned nine Salem hitters to keep the offense in check for the 6-0 shutout. 

The Spirits fought back from a 2-0 deficit in game two of the series to eventually forge in front 4-2 in the fifth on a grounder to first by Price, scoring Emma Greeson. Olivia Porter followed with a single to right, scoring Maleah Tate, as the Spirits provided the offensive support. Meanwhile, in the circle, sophomore Isabella Morales struck out seven batters, equaling her single-game career high and season-high. However, a seventh inning rally by Methodist, highlighted by Alyssa Rivas, who lifted a three-run home run over the left centerfield wall, allowed Methodist to regain the lead 6-5. 

Porter kept the Spirits' hopes alive in the seventh with a home run to left on a 2-1 pitch, tying the game at 6-6. With Kayla Dick at third, Fisher drove in the game-winning hit on a walk-off single, scoring the sliding Dick, as Salem completed the comeback walk-off victory 7-6. 

GAME 1 | Methodist 6, Salem 0
W: Kiersten Margoupis (9-9) / L: Riley Dennis (4-13)
Salem Leaders: Carmen Duffey (4.1 IP, 5 K's / 1-3, double), Riley Dennis (2.2. IP, 3 K's), Maleah Tate (3-3, 2 SB)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-The Spirits put their first runner on base in the first inning when Maleah Tate reached on a single and quickly swiped her 32nd stolen base of the season. 
-Kayla Dick reached first on a single in the second for Salem's second hit of the day. Teammate and senior Lauryn Fisher reached on a fielding error at second, providing the Spirits with their third base runner of the game. 
-Tate connected on a bunt single to left and provided the Spirits with their third hit of the game. 
-Riley Dennis struck out three Monarch sluggers in her first 2.2 innings. 
-Carmen Duffey, who entered the circle in relief of Dennis, came through with strikeouts in third, fourth and fifth innings. 
-With one out in the home half of the fifth, Duffey hit a double off the left field walk for the first extra-base hit of the game for Salem. 
-Duffey closed out the seventh by striking out both Hobbs and Wade, moving her strikeout total to five. 

METHODIST HIGHLIGHTS
-Hannah Lovick reached base on a leadoff walk and scored two batters later on a two-run blast over the left field wall by Alyssa Rivas. 
-Rivas collected her second hit of the day in the third, leading off the inning with a walk. Rachel Blanchard followed with a single of her own before a walk by Grace Hobbs loaded the bases. 
-Devan Wegner lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Rivas for the 3-0 Methodist lead. With two runners in scoring position, Reilly Howell sent a bases-clearing single down the left field line, stretching the lead to 5-0. 
-Kealey Wade opened the sixth with a double to right centerfield. Rivas scored Wade two batters later, moving the score to 6-0, with a double into shallow centerfield. Senior second baseman Kat Price ended the scoring threat with a catch in the infield, halting the running threat for the Monarchs. 

GAME 2 | Salem 7, Methodist 6 (8 innings)
W: Riley Dennis (5-13) / L: Emma Neeley (5-13)
Salem Leaders: Olivia Porter (2-4, 2 RBI, run, HR), Lauryn Fisher (1-3, GW RBI), Kat Price (1-3, 2 RBI), Kayla Dick (GW run), Carmen Duffey (1-3, run), Emma Greeson (1-1, RBI, run)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-With two outs in the home half of the third, Maleah Tate reached base on a single. Senior Kat Price followed with a hit to right, scoring Tate from second, following her third stolen base of the day. Salem cut the lead in half, 2-1, heading into the fourth. 
-NeVaeha George roped a single off the centerfield wall in the home half of the fourth, giving Salem its third hit and a runner at first. Lauryn Fisher reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth, but Methodist kept Salem at bay and ended the inning with a fly out to right field. 
-A double down the left field line by Carmen Duffey led off the fifth inning for the Spirits. 
-Emma Greeson delivered a pinch hit triple to right, scoring Duffey, tying the game at 2-2 in the fifth. Tate put runners on the corners with a walk, before swiping her second stolen base of the game—fourth of the day—with Price at the plate. 
-Price delivered the go-ahead run for Salem, grounding to first as Greeson scored from third. Olivia Porter followed with a single to right, scoring Tate, as Salem grabbed the 4-2 lead. 
-McKenzie Kramer reached on a single in the sixth and was replaced on the base pads by pinch runner Reese Upton. Madison Long followed with a hit, putting two on, before a throwing error allowed Reese Upton to score, giving Salem a 5-2 lead. 
-With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, first-year Olivia Porter sent a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to knot the game at six-all. 
-The Spirits held Methodist scoreless in the top of the eighth and with a runner at second, in the form of Kayla Dick, a fly out to right field by George moved her to third. 
-Fisher's walk-off single to second base scored Kayla Dick from third, as Salem completed the 7-6 victory. 

METHODIST HIGHLIGHTS
-After a leadoff strikeout by Isabella Morales, Methodist's Rachel Lawson reached base on a single through the left side of the infield. Teammate Reilly Howell followed with a two-run home run to left, providing the Monarchs with a 2-0 advantage. 
-With runners on first and second, the Spirits got three straight outs to end the run-scoring threat in the top of the fifth with solid defense behind Morales. 
-The Monarchs opened the seventh with a leadoff walk by pinch hitter Bailey Snow, who scored from first on a double into left centerfield by Hannah Lovick, slicing the lead to 5-3. 
-Alyssa Rivas lifted a three-run home run over the left centerfield wall, as Methodist regained the lead 6-5.