WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After being forced to cancel the first three games of its season due to inclement weather on Feb. 14-15, the Salem softball team will host Old Dominion Athletic Conference foe Guilford on Wednesday, Feb. 19th for a doubleheader which begins at 4 p.m.
The Spirits are coming off a 2019 season where they finished 25-17 overall and 9-7 in USA South Conference action, reaching the quarterfinals of the league tournament before suffering a series of setbacks to Averett and eventual USA South Conference champion Maryville.
Second-year head coach Kierston Garner, a 2016 graduate of Salem, will have eight upperclassmen returning to her lineup, including senior catcher Madison Burch. Burch was one of 13 players on the Salem roster to finish with at least 10 hits, closing 10-of-28 (.357) from the plate in 29 games played in 2019. She wrapped up the season with seven RBI, a .429 slugging percentage and .424 on-base percentage.
Garner's lineup will also feature sophomore Brianne Coleman, who ranked in the top-five of nine major team statistical categories including batting average (.442—1st), doubles (13—1st), RBI (39—1st), slugging percentage (.770—1st), on-base percentage (.508—1st), stolen bases (5—2nd), hits (50—2nd) and at bats (113—3rd). Her postseason honors included a spot on the USA South First Team All-Conference, USA South Rookie of the Year, USA South First Team East Division and USA South All-Tournament Team.
On the mound, Salem returns Miranda Barker, who lead the team in wins (13) and ERA (2.14) along with Kyla Ogle, who finished 7-4 overall. Barker struck out 100 batters over the course of the 2019 season, ending with at least four strikeouts on 13 occasions, including a single-game season-high 14 K's in a 7-0 win at Mary Baldwin (April 6).
Ogle converted 82 strikeouts in 81 innings of work, recording at least five strikeouts in nine contests. She had a pair of double-digit strikeout performances in the first month of the season, fanning 11 Southern Virginia hitters on Feb. 16 and 10 Brandeis hitters two days later.
Guilford (4-2) enters with a three-game winning streak after posting wins against Methodist (13-2), Meredith (8-5 / 6-5) in succession. The Quakers are led at the plate by Natalie Conrad, who is responsible for a .417 batting average, 10 hits, seven runs and five RBI. Teammate Casey Bunting leads Guilford in RBI with 11.
On the mound, Katie McNeill (3-1) guides the way with 21 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. She has surrendered just eight runs (six earned runs) in four appearances. Abigayle Rowell has the other win for Guilford, logging 11.2 innings, surrendering 17 hits and converting just two strikeouts.
For more information on Salem softball check out www.salemspirits.com.
