Salem softball competed in an away series against Brevard College on Tuesday afternoon and went 1-1 by scores of 2-10 and 10-9.

Game 1:

The Spirits started out rolling at the plate putting two runs on the board in the first inning. Carlee Tart led things off for the Spirits on a high note with a single to center field. Reese Upton singled to the pitcher and Tart scored by capitalizing on a miscue. Lawson hit up the middle for an RBI single to score Upton from third. Defensively the Spirits were locked in during the first inning quickly earning three outs with efforts from Tart at second, Kayla Dick in center field, and Eileen Maddox in right field. The Spirits were unable to add to their lead in the second inning at the plate and left one runner on. The Tornadoes gained momentum at the plate in the bottom of the second and combined for nine hits to put seven runs on the board. Key defensive players who secured outs to end the inning were Camryn Clarke at second, Madison Talley in the circle, and Tart at second. The third inning was another scoreless outing for the Spirits, going three-up-three-down. However, they were able to rest on defense and held the Tornadoes scoreless in the third.

Emma Greeson was a bright spot for the Spirits at the plate in the top of the fourth, singling to shortstop however she was unable to score. The Tornadoes regained momentum at the plate in the bottom of the fourth to scratch three more runs on three hits and left one runner on. Lawson and Clarke were a powerful duo on the left side and combined for two of the three outs to end the inning. 

Despite their efforts and Tate reaching base in the fifth inning, the Spirits were unable to bounce back after giving up the lead with the contest ending in five innings.

Game 2:

After the break, the Spirits came out strong at the plate to scratch one run and take the early lead. Tart continued to be a bright spot for the Spirits in the lead off position and singled to third base. Tate battled to earn a walk at the plate and Upton laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners into scoring position. Lawson then hit an RBI to the right side to score Tart. The Tornadoes instantly responded at the plate and put up three runs on six hits in the bottom of the first. The Spirits were unable to answer at the plate in the top of the second, despite a single down the left field line by Griffin Pearce and Jelene Avila reaching base with a hit by pitch. The Tornadoes were also held scoreless in the second inning and stranded two runners of their own with Tate in center field and Avila in right field securing outs to end the inning. The Spirits gained momentum at the plate in the top of the third combining for four runs. Tate and Upton earned back-to-back walks then Lawson reached first on a hit to shortstop. Tate scored on a hit by Greeson to second base, and both Lawson and Greeson scored on a triple to right center off the bat of Rheanne Tullock. Tullock scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Griffin Pearce to give the Spirits a two-run lead. The Tornadoes instantly responded again and cut the lead to one scoring one run on three hits and left one on base. 

The Spirits remained aggressive at the plate in the top of the fourth to put three more runs on the board with four hits. Tart and Tate singled before being brought home to score on a double by Upton down the left field line. Lawson kept things going with a single to the left side and Upton scored on a defensive miscue. The Spirits remained confident on defense as well, holding the Tornadoes scoreless in the fourth and stranded two runners on base. Pearce started things off on a high note for the Spirits in the fifth, with a single down the third base line but was left stranded, despite a sacrifice bunt from Amy McLamb to move her into scoring position. The Tornadoes were unable to answer in the fifth, going three-up-three-down with outs being recorded by Tate, NeVaeha George, and Avila. The Spirits added two more to their lead in the top of the sixth with two hits. Upton singled to left field and was brought home to score by a triple from Lawson to left center. Lawson then scored on a hit by Greeson to the left side. The Spirits recorded another three-up-three-down inning on defense in the bottom of the sixth with outs being credited to Tart at shortstop, Chloe Bailey-Bonomo on the mound, and Avila in right field. The Spirits were unable to add to their lead in the top of the seventh despite hits being recorded by Avila and Tate. The Tornadoes regained momentum at the plate in the bottom of the seventh with their backs against the wall and combined for three hits to score five runs and bring the game within one. 

Despite a threatening comeback from the Tornadoes, the Spirits were able to hold onto their lead with the last out being a strikeout looking recorded by Talley in the circle. The contest ended after seven innings with a score of 10-9 favoring the Spirits.

Stat Leaders:

Carlee Tart: 3 H, 1 SB, 2 PO, 4 A

Maleah Tate: 2 H, 2 BB, 2 SB, 5 PO

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

Griffin Pearce: 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 SF, 1 PO

The Spirits will next be in action in a conference matchup at Home vs Meredith College on March 28th at 1pm and 3pm.