Winston-Salem, NC-Both of Salem College softball's season opening games were close heading into the final inning, but Emory & Henry was able to prevail for two wins 8-0 and 8-7. Brianna Morris led the Spirits as she went 4 for 7 from the plate with 4 runs batted in for the day. Salem falls to 0-2, while the Wasps improve to 2-0.
The Spirits started two first-year pitchers in their season opening games. In game 1, Miranda Barker pitched 6.2 innings of shutout softball, before Emory & Henry tacked on 8 unearned runs in the top of the seventh. She allowed 7 hits and had 5 strikeouts. Morris pitched 0.1 innings and allowed 1 run and 2 hits.
The game was tied at 0-0 going into the last inning when the Spirits had 2 costly errors. Montana Lineberger, who had a home-run saving catch in the 6th inning and Morris picked up the only 2 hits for the Spirits in the first game.
In the second game, Kayla Ogle pitched the complete game and allowed 5 earned runs on 6 hits, with an impressive 12 strikeouts. The Salem bats came alive as they scored 6 of their 7 runs in the first 2 innings of game 2. Barker hit a 2 run home-run for her first career homer. Morris and Amanda Dacunto each hit a double in the second game. Dacunto scored 3 runs as well. The Spirits held a 7-6 lead going into the final inning, when the Wasps scored twice for the win. Salem out-hit Emory & Henry 9-6 for the second game.
The Spirits return to action in a week when they host Southern Virginia on the 16th at 4:00 and 6:00.