Salem softball competed in a home series splitting with Covenant College on Saturday and Oberlin College on Sunday at Blixt Field.
Covenant College
Game 1:
The Spirits and Scots were locked in on defense for the first five innings of the game with the first run not being scored until the sixth inning for the visiting team. Key defensive plays for the Spirits were made by Carlee Tart at second, Maleah Tate in center field, Morgan Lawson at third, and Madison Talley in the circle. At the plate Reese Upton and Lawson singled with Tart doubling in the bottom of the fifth, but no runs were able to come across the plate. The Spirits were able to respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth on a solo homer over the left field fence from Lawson. The seventh inning was scoreless for both teams forcing the game to go into extra innings. The Scots scored two runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. Tart led off the bottom of the eighth with a RBI double to score Avila from second. Karma Morrison then stepped in and hit a walk off two-run homer over the center field fence to give the Spirits the 4-3 win at home in eight innings.
Game 2:
Following the break the Spirits remained focused on defense going three up, three down in the top of the first. At the plate Tart led off with a walk and was brought home to score on an RBI double from Upton who then scored on an RBI single from Lawson. The second and third inning were scoreless for both teams, despite a double from Emma Greeson in the second and a single from Maleah Tate. The Scots finally gained momentum at the plate in the fourth inning scoring three runs on three hits. Key defensive plays were made by Morrison at first and Tart at second to limit the damage. Both teams were scoreless in the fifth inning going three up, three down. The Spirits were able to hold the Scots to a one run lead in the top of the sixth, with outs being recorded by Lawson and Upton. At the plate, Morrison led off the bottom of the sixth, reaching first on a HBP. Upton then singled to move the pinch runner Avila to third and Lawson hit an RBI single to tie the game. The Scots responded with a run in the top of the seventh to take the lead. Despite a triple from Tate, the Spirits were unable to respond and lost the contest 3-4 in seven innings.
Stat Leaders:
Carlee Tart: 2 H, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 7 PO
Karma Morrison: 1 H, 2 RBI, 14 PO
Morgan Lawson: 4 H, 3 RBI, 1 PO
Madison Talley: 3 SO, 1 PO
Oberlin College
Game 1:
The Spirits quickly settled in on defense, turning a 5-4-3 double play to end the first inning. At the plate, Tart and Tate singled with Morrison laying down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Upton then hit a two-run RBI single to score Tart and Tate. The second inning was scoreless for both teams, despite a single from Greeson in the bottom of the second. The Spirits remained focused on defense in the third to produce another scoreless inning with outs being recorded by Upton, Tart, and Lawson. The Spirits scratched two runs across the plate in the bottom of the third on a single by Tate that was followed up with an RBI single from Upton, who was also able to score on an error. Both teams remained steady in the field, allowing no runs to score in the fourth or fifth innings, despite singles from Greeson, Tart, and Morrison. In the top of the sixth, Oberlin gained momentum at the plate to capitalize and score two runs on one hit. The Spirits were unable to scratch any runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth, however, their defense held on to only give up one run in the seventh, with Upton and Lawson connecting to earn the final out. The contest ended in seven innings with the Spirits winning 5-3.
Game 2:
Following the break, Oberlin got going early, scratching two runs across the plate on three hits. Key defensive plays were made by Lawson at third to limit the damage and strand two runners on base. The Spirits responded instantly at the plate with a single from Tate and Morrison reaching on a HBP. Upton then doubled to score Tate and Morrison. Lawson and Clarke reached on a HBP with Kayla Dick singling to score Upton from third. The second inning was scoreless for both teams and the Spirits remained focused in the top of the third with outs being recorded by Clarke, Dick, and Tart. Upton led off for the Spirits in the bottom of the third with a solo homer over the center field fence. Lawson followed with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Clarke. Oberlin responded soon after at the plate with two runs on three hits to tie the game. The Spirits retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth scoring two runs of their own. NaVaeha George, Tart, and Tate all singled to lead the bases. Morrison hit a sacrifice fly to center field to center field to score pinch runner Amy McLamb and Upton hit an RBI to score Tart. Oberlin strung two hits together in the fifth to scratch one run across the plate and cut the lead to one. The Spirits were held scoreless in the bottom of the fifth and Oberlin was able to capitalize and score two runs in the sixth on two hits. Key defensive plays were made by Lawson, Greeson, and Morrison to end the inning. Despite a single from Morrison in the bottom of the sixth the Spirits were unable to scratch any runs across the plate. Oberlin added to their lead and scored two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh. Despite their efforts the Spirits were unable to battle back and lost the contest 6-9 in seven innings.
Stat Leaders:
Carlee Tart: 3 H, 7 PO
Maleah Tate: 5 H, 3 SB, 3 PO
Reese Upton: 4 H, 7 RBI, 6 PO
Emma Greeson: 4 H, 2 PO
The Spirits will next be in action in a non-conference matchup AWAY vs Johnson & Wales on March 21st at 12pm and 2pm.
