Salem Softball competed in an away series against North Carolina Wesleyan University on Sunday afternoon, losing by scores of 5-11 and 7-8.
Game 1:
The Spirits got the scoring going early in the first, with Carlee Tart starting things off on a high note by hitting a lead off single to left field. Reese Upton then doubled to left field to put runners into scoring position for Morgan Lawson, who singled to right field to score Tart. Madison Talley kept things going with a RBI single to right field to score Upton and give the Spirits the early two run lead. The Bishops responded instantly at the plate to match Salem's score of two on a series of three hits and stranding two on base. A key double play was turned by Lawson at third base, Upton behind the plate, and Karma Morrison at first base to end the rally. The Spirits were held scoreless in the top of the second, going down in one-two-three fashion. The Bishops continued rolling at the plate, putting two more runs on the board in the bottom of the second on two hits. Tart was a bright spot for Salem defensively and recorded two of three outs to end the inning. Upton led off for the Spirits in the third with a line drive single to center field. Lawson reached first on a fielder's choice and Kayla Dick reached base on a hit by pitch, however both were left stranded and unable to score. In the bottom of the third, NCW added two more runs to the lead on one hit. Key outs were gathered by Dick in left field and Jelene Avila in right field.
Both the Spirits and Bishops were held scoreless in the fourth with outs being recorded by Tart, Avila, and Camryn Clarke at shortstop. Maleah Tate started the fifth inning out on a high note for Salem with a single to the left side. She then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lawson cashed in on an RBI ground out to third to score Tate. NCW scratched one run across the plate in the bottom of the fifth on two hits and left one runner on base. The Spirits responded with a run of their own in the top of the sixth with Morrison reaching first on a hit to the left side. Avila then singled to right field to move the pinch runner, Rheanne Tullock, to third. Tart hit a deep sacrifice fly to center to easily score Tullock from third. The Bishops regained momentum at the plate in the bottom of the sixth to score three runs on six hits. Key defensive plays were made by Tate in center field and Tart at second to end the rally. Upton led things off for the Spirits on a high note in the top of the seventh with a solo home run over the left field fence.
Despite their efforts and a two-out single to center field from Dick, the Spirits were unable to respond after giving up the lead with the contest ending in seven innings.
Game 2:
Tart led things off for the Spirits on a high note following the break with a single to left field. Upton kept things going with a single down the third base line, however both runners were unable to score. The Bishops got out to a fast start at the plate, scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Key defensive plays were made by Lawson at third, Tart at second, and Clarke to get out of the inning. Salem was unable to respond at the plate in the top of the second. Defensively, the Spirits settled in during the second inning and recorded three quick outs regardless of the one-out single for the home team. Salem gained momentum at the plate in the top of the third, with Avila capitalizing to earn a one-out base runner on a hit to the right side. Tart then doubled to left field to put both runners into scoring position. Upton hit a three run homer over the left field fence to bring the Spirits within striking distance. NCW responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the third on two hits and left one runner stranded. Dick was a bright spot for Salem defensively in left field and recorded two of the three outs to end the inning.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Chloe Bailey-Bonomo singled up the middle but was left stranded and unable to score. The Bishops were held scoreless in the fourth, with outs being recorded by Bailey-Bonomo in the circle, Clarke, and Tate. The Spirits kept things rolling at the plate in the fifth inning to score one run on one hit and left two runners on. Upton earned a two-out single to the right side and was moved into scoring position by Lawson who reached base on a hit by pitch. Madison Talley then capitalized and reached base on a ball hit to the left side that brought Upton home to score on the defensive miscue. NCW was unable to respond in the fifth despite a two-out single to left field with well-timed outs being recorded by Lawson at third. The Spirits tied the game at five in the top of the sixth with Dick leading off and capitalizing on a ball hit to second base. Bailey-Bonomo then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position and Tart cashed in on a RBI grounder hit the left side to score Dick. Defensively, the Spirits remained locked in during the bottom of the sixth and held the Bishops scoreless with outs being recorded by Dick, Morrison, and Tart. With the game tied at five, Upton led off for the Spirits in the seventh to earn a four pitch walk. Talley then singled to shortstop and Morrison singled to center field to score Upton from second. Following the pitching change Dick hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Talley from third and give Salem the two-run lead. In the bottom of the seventh the Spirits quickly recorded two outs with two pop flies being gathered by Tate.
Despite the efforts from the Spirits, the Bishops came back and rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion with the contest ending in seven innings.
Stat Leaders:
Reese Upton: 6 H, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 4 PO, 4 A
Madison Talley: 3 H, 1 RBI,
Carlee Tart: 3 H, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 8 PO, 3 A
Morgan Lawson: 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 PO, 2 A
The Spirits will next be in action in a conference matchup at Home vs Pfeiffer University on April 4th at 1pm and 3pm.
