Salem softball competed in an away series sweeping Johnson and Wales on Saturday and falling to Guilford College on Sunday.

Johnson and Wales

Game 1:

The Spirits quickly took the lead in the first inning with Maleah Tate capitalizing after Carlee Tart reached first on a hit by pitch. Defensively, the Spirits were locked in, holding the Wildcats scoreless in the first with a double play turned by Tate and Morrison. The Spirits had the favor returned at the plate, until they regained momentum in the sixth inning. The Wildcats responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the second on two hits, and stranded two runners on base. Despite their struggles hitting, the Spirits remained focused on defense with Tart at second turning another double play in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Camryn Clarke was another bright spot for the Spirits, defensively recording all three outs in the fourth. Emma Greeson led off on a high note for Salem in the sixth inning, singling to right field. Tart and Tate then singled to load the bases for Karma Morrison who singled to right field to bring home Greeson and Tart to give the Spirits the lead. Salem held the Wildcats scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, and despite a single from Morgan Lawson in the seventh, the Spirits were unable to extend their lead. Regardless, Salem kept the Wildcats from scoring in the bottom of the seventh with key outs being brought in by Kayla Dick in left field and Madison Talley on the mound. The contest ended in seven innings with the Spirits winning 3-1. 

Game 2:

Following the break, the Spirits were unable to instantly score despite a single to left field from Reese Upton. Defensively the Spirits continued to fire on all cylinders, going three-up-three-down in the first inning. Salem gained momentum at the plate in the top of the second, with Morrison, Clarke, Talley, and Greeson stringing hits together to put two runs on the board. The Wildcats remained scoreless in the second despite a lead off walk with outs being recorded by Greeson, Tate, and Tart. The Spirits were able to capitalize in the top of the third to score three runs on three hits with three runners being left on base. Singles were recorded by Upton and Lawson, with a two RBI single to right center coming off the bat of Talley to score them both. The Wildcats quickly loaded the bases in the third inning with no outs, however the Spirits were able to end the inning unscathed with a double play turned by Tart at second. Offensively, Salem scratched one run across the plate in the top of the fourth with a single from Upton who was brought home to score on a sacrifice fly from Dick. The Wildcats remained scoreless in the fourth inning with two hits leaving two runners on base. After going down three in a row, the Spirits remained settled on defense to strand two more Wildcat runners on base in the fifth, with outs being recorded by Morrison, Clarke, and Lawson. The Wildcats finally gained momentum at the plate in the bottom of the sixth to scratch two runs across the plate with two hits. A bright spot for Salem was Tart, who turned another double play at second to end the inning. Lawson led off for the Spirits and reached second on a hit to third base. Morrison then singled to right field to score Lawson from third base. Despite their efforts the Wildcats were unable to respond in the bottom of the seventh with the contest ending in favor of Salem 7-2. 

Stat Leaders:

Karma Morrison: 3 H, 3 RBI, 20 PO

Madison Talley: 2 H, 3 RBI, 2 SO 

Maleah Tate: 2 H, 3 SB, 3 PO, 2 A

Morgan Lawson: 2 H, 1 SB, 1 PO, 3 A

Guilford College

Game 1:

The Spirits got the scoring going early, scratching two runs across the plate in the first. Tart led off with a four pitch walk, followed up by a single from Tate to third base. Lawson then doubled off the center field fence to score both runners and give Salem the early lead. The Quakers responded instantly at the plate with two runs of their own on three hits. Dick led off in the second reaching first on a hit by pitch and was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Jelene Avila. Dick was brought home to score on Tart's hit to second base. Guilford was held scoreless in the second inning, with all three outs of the inning being recorded by Lawson at third. Despite a double to left field from Greeson, the Spirits were unable to capitalize and left three runners on in the third. The Quakers tied the game at three in the third inning on two hits with three runners of their own left on base. Salem responded in the fourth with a lead off double to left field from Talley followed up by Tart reaching first on a ball hit to shortstop. Tate then reached first on a bunt to second base that brought Talley and Tart home to score. Tate was then able to score on a ball hit to right field off the bat of Upton. With the lead, the Spirits remained settled on defense going three-up-three-down in the bottom of the fourth. Salem scratched another run across the plate in the fifth on a series of hits by Avila, Talley, Tate, and Upton. Guilford was able to instantly respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth on two hits, leaving two runners on. Lawson was a bright spot for the Spirits defensively at third and recorded the final two outs of the inning. The Quakers tied the game at seven in the bottom of the sixth with three hits scoring two runs. Salem was unable to take the lead in the top of the seventh and the Quakers walked it off in the bottom of the inning defeating the Spirits 7-8.

Game 2: 

Following the break, both teams went three-up-three-down in the first inning. Lawson got the bats going for the Spirits with a hit through the left side and made her way all the way to third in the top of the second, however she was unable to score. The Quakers got the scoring going in the bottom of the second with one run coming across the plate on four hits and two runners stranded on base. Guilford extended their lead in the bottom of the third with five hits scoring four runs and three runners being left on. The Spirits remained cold at the plate in the fourth inning, going down three in a row. Defensively, Salem was able to reset in the bottom of the fourth, sitting the Quakers down three in a row with outs being recorded by Lawson and Tate. The Spirits remained scoreless in the fifth, however, Clarke was a bright spot after she reached first on a bunt to the right side. The Quakers scratched three runs across the plate with three hits being recorded in the bottom of the fifth. Despite their efforts Salem was unable to cut into the deficit and was defeated in five innings at a score of 8-0, favoring Guilford. 

Stat Leaders:

Morgan Lawson: 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 PO, 9 A

Maleah Tate: 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 4 PO

Emma Greeson: 2 H, 1 PO

Madison Talley: 2 H, 3 A

The Spirits will next be in action in a conference matchup AWAY vs Brevard on March 24st at 2pm and 4pm.