WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The 2020 Salem softball team, which completed a doubleheader sweep of FDU-Florham on Wednesday, March 11, by posting wins of 2-0 and 6-0, is now tied with the 2017 unit for the longest winning streak in program history—nine games—which began following a 4-1 triumph over Huntingdon on Feb. 29.
The 2017 unit established the mark from March 11-March 22 by downing Wesleyan (Ga.), Agnes Scott, Meredith, Methodist and winning the first game of a doubleheader with Piedmont. The Lions halted the streak with a 2-0 victory in the nightcap.
Salem (9-5) had four players record at least two hits in the doubleheader victory, including Amanda Dacunto, who finished 3-of-6 from the plate with an RBI. The Spirits also received multi-hit outings from Breanna Herman (2-3, RBI, run), Brianne Coleman (2-4, 2 RBI, triple, run) and Miranda Barker (2-5, double, RBI, 2 runs).
Brittany Morton led the way for the Salem offense with three RBI in the two contests, while enjoying a double.
Kayla Ogle improved to 5-0 on the slate with the game one victory, while Abby Shelton posted the first win of her collegiate career at Blixt Field in game two of the doubleheader.
GAME 1: Salem 2, FDU Florham 0
Salem broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth by putting two runs across in the frame. Hannah Escala reached on an error at second and Madison Burch followed by reaching on an error at first to quickly put two on base for the Spirits. Dacunto slapped a single to second, scoring Escala in the process of moving Burch to third. With runners on the corner a sacrifice fly from Barker drove in the second run of the game for Salem.
Salem surrendered four hits in the next two innings, but the Devils managed to get just one runner to third as Ogle picked up the fourth win of the season and her second shutout. She scattered eight hits over seven innings while striking out five FDU-Florham hitters.
Dacunto capped off the game by going 2-of-3 from the plate with an RBI, while Madison Thomas, Hannah Thompson and Coleman recorded one hit each.
GAME 2: Salem 6, FDU-Florham 0
The Spirits quickly established themselves in the second game, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. With Barker at first base, following a single to center, Coleman knocked a triple into right field to provide Salem with the 1-0 lead.
Two innings later, Savanah Atkins opened the frame with a double to left field. Coleman drew a two-out walk to keep the inning alive before Herman singled to left and brought Atkins homeward. Brittany Morton reached base on an error, which allowed Coleman to score, as the Spirits' advantage grew to 3-0.
Salem tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and forged ahead 6-0. Dacunto began the frame with a single to centerfield and motored to third with a double by Barker. Coleman brought the fourth run of the game home with a grounder to short. Morton followed in the lineup with a double, scoring both Herman and Barker, to provide the Spirits with a 6-0 cushion.
Shelton (1-0) took advantage of the six-run lead and closed out her first Salem victory. Shelton allowed just six hits and fanned one Devils hitter in the win.
The Spirits conclude their six-game homestand on Saturday, March 14, when they host Wesleyan (Ga.) for a doubleheader at Blixt Field which begins at 1 p.m. For more information on Salem softball check out www.salemspirits.com.