Salem College

FIRST-YEAR (2025): Capped off her first season in the circle by making 22 appearances (17 starts) in the circle … tossed 93.2 innings, allowing 107 runs (83 earned runs), 44 walks and striking out a team-best 83 opposing hitters along the way … her 83 K’s ranked fourth-most in the USA South Conference in 2025 and seventh most in a single-season in Salem history … Dennis picked up her fourth win of the season in dramatic fashion, tossing the fifth no hitter in program history as she tallied 12 K's along the way. The Salem first year hurler joins Lauryn Smith, Kayla Ogle and Miranda Barker as the only pitchers in Salem history with 12 K's in a game … with Dennis in the circle, Salem witnessed its fifth no hitter in program history. It is the first for the Spirits since holding Southern Virginia hitless on February 15, 2019. It marks the first no hitter at Blixt Field since holding Mary Baldwin without a hit on March 29, 2018 … made her collegiate debut in game two against Columbia International (Feb. 14), closing with four K’s over 5.1 innings … brought home her first win in a complete-game performance against St. Andrews where she scattered seven runs and two hits, while fanning eight Knight hitters … struck out four Grace (March 2), resulting in her fourth multi-strikeout performance of the season … fanned three Averett (March 6) batters over four innings … claimed her second win after allowing three runs on eight hits over seven innings, while fanning six Covenant (March 8) hitters … made her first relief appearance in game two against Covenant … earned her third win of the season in a 6-1 downing over Oberlin (March 9) as she struck out eight over a complete-game two-hit outing … emerged with nine K’s in a six-inning performance against Carolina University (March 18) … struck out six Brevard (March 26) sluggers in seven innings … had three K’s as she entered the circle against Southern Virginia (April 1), N.C. Wesleyan (Game 2-April 5) and Methodist (Game 1-April 26) … responsible for two strikeouts versus No. 24 Pfeiffer (Game 2-March 28), Meredith (Game 1-April 6) and Mary Baldwin (Game 1-April 22) … claimed her fifth and final win of the season as a reliever in game two of Methodist (April 26) series, tossing two innings, allowing three hits and two runs, while closing with one strikeout.

PREP: Graduated from Stanly Early College in 2024 … also attended Stanly Community College… a five-year member of the Bulls’ softball team, playing from 2020-2024 … competed one season (2020) for Coach Davis before being coached by David Poplin from 2021-24 … recognized as an All-Conference performer in both 2020 and 2023 … received All-Nation honors in 2023 … earned a spot on All-State and All-District units following the 2023 campaign … received the Hot Stove Coaches Award from her team following 2023 season … led South Stanly High School to the 2022 State Championship. 

PERSONAL: Riley Dennis … daughter of Lori and Derek Dennis … born on September 22, 2005 … has two siblings, Gage and Korbin … was a Junior Marshall at Stanly Early College … made Honor Roll in each of her four years.