Opponents:
Meredith vs. Salem | March 29 | Winston-Salem, N.C. | Blixt Field | 1:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.
Salem at N.C. Wesleyan | March 30 | Rocky Mount, N.C. | Edge Field | 1:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.

SALEM OPENS USA SOUTH PLAY WITH DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND
The Salem softball team returns to action after a 16-day layoff, enduring two rainouts along the way, when it begins USA South Conference action against the likes of Meredith (March 29) and N.C. Wesleyan (March 30).

The Spirits wrapped up a six-game road stretch, longest of the season, with a series of setbacks to Agnes Scott on Wednesday, March 13th.

The road trip consisted of doubleheader clashes with Covenant (March 12) and Agnes Scott (March 13). Salem also made the short trek to nearby Carolina University, where the two met in a doubleheader in Clemmons, on March 5th.

PEACH STATE UNKIND TO SALEM SOFTBALL IN FOUR-GAME STRETCH
The Spirits made a swing through Georgia last week, making stops in both Covenant and Agnes Scott along the way.

Salem suffered a series of doubleheader sweeps along the way, dropping 10-8 and 14-8 decisions to Covenant on Tuesday, March 12th before setbacks to Agnes Scott the following afternoon by margins of 3-2 and 9-1 (5 innings).

LOOKING INSIDE THE SPIRITS
-Salem has had at least five hits in a game on 14 occasions this season, including a single-game season-high 15 hits in the second game of the season against Carolina University.
-The Spirits have accrued an extra-base hit in 13 of 18 games in 2024. The exceptions came against Livingstone (Game 2-Feb. 19), St. Andrews (Game 1-Feb. 22), Guilford (Game 2-Feb. 28) and Averett (Game 1-March 3), Covenant (Game 2-March 12).
-The Spirits have blasted six home runs in 18 contests, including two in the second game of the series with St. Andrews on February 22nd. The last time that the Spirits had at least two home runs in a single game was on February 19, 2020 when they launched three against Guilford.
-Sophomore slugger Maleah Tate leads the way with a team-best 25 hits, allowing her to swipe 14 bases as a result. Tate's 14 steals are second-most in a single season in program history, eight off the pace established by Karson Chapman, who tallied 22 in the 2013 campaign. Tate recently passed Jennifer Vitarelli for second-most single-season steals. Vitarelli swiped 13 in 2017.
-First-year hurler Isabella Morales has made her presence felt in the circle, notching 34 K's in 44 innings pitched. Morales, who has twice been named USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week, has issued just 15 walks and is boasting a 6.36 ERA.

LOOKING TO CLAIM A DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP
Salem has the opportunity to claim its first doubleheader sweep since taking down Livingstone on March 20, 2023 by scores of 13-5 and 15-2. That victory over the Blue Bears came at Blixt Field, which coincidentally marked the first wins of her coaching career.

The last time that Salem went on the road to earn a doubleheader sweep was on March 7, 2020, when the Spirits took down Randolph in Lynchburg, Va., by scores of 3-1 and 7-2 in succession. The 2020 campaign also marked the last time that Salem claimed consecutive road victories, which reached five games.

The five-game winning streak began with a 4-1 win at Huntingdon on February 29th and continued with 4-1 and 5-4 triumphs over Agnes Scott on March 1st. Six days later, the Spirits earned their fourth and fifth road victories against Randolph on March 7th. Salem would win nine straight during that span, claiming home wins against both Ferrum (March 8) and FDU-Florham (March 11).

SCOUTING REPORT: Meredith | 9-7 / 0-0 USA South
The Avenging Angels enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak that began with a 4-3 setback to Salem State in Kissimmee, Florida, as part of the Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic Softball Tournament.

The setback to Salem State was followed by losses to both Hamline (10-1) and the University of New England (5-3). Meredith opened that same tournament with a three-game winning streak against Macalester (9-4), Wesleyan University (4-3) and the University of Southern Maine (4-1).

Meredith has not played a true road game at this point of the season, but is 3-3 at neutral sites.

Emilee Lewis leads all Meredith hitters with a .563 batting average as a result of 18 hits in 32 official at bats. She has scored 15 runs and is responsible for a .594 on-base percentage this season.

Mariah Bell is the second-best statistical hitter on the unit with 12 hits in 34 at bats, boasting a .353 average. She has scored nine runs and delivered one double on the season. Teammate Avery Puryear leads all sluggers with 14 RBI.

Six pitchers have entered the circle for the Avenging Angels, including Hannah Weigle, who has a 2.50 ERA along with 19 K's. She has tossed 36.1 innings, allowed 35 hits and 19 runs along the way. Teammate Lillie Davis is second on the team in ERA (2.81), but leads the unit with 36 strikeouts.

The Avenging Angels own an 8-6 lead in the all-time series with Salem, winning the last five head-to-head meetings between the two programs.

All-Time Series (vs. Meredith)

SCOUTING REPORT: N.C. Wesleyan | 10-8 / 0-0 USA South
The Battling Bishops head into their first weekend of USA South Conference play by winning three of its last four games. N.C. Wesleyan opened its series against Averett with a 3-1 victory before falling in the nightcap by an 11-5 margin.

Six days later, on March 25th, in a clash with Carolina University the Battling Bishops came through with a sweep. N.C. Wesleyan opened with a 5-0 win in the first game and followed that with an 8-1 victory in game two.

Before hosting Salem on Saturday afternoon, N.C. Wesleyan will make the trip to the Gate City on Friday, March 29th, to compete with Greensboro.

The Battling Bishops have two players with at least a .400 batting average, including Makayla Simmons (.420) and Skyler Walker (.400). Walker leads all N.C. Wesleyan sluggers with 24 hits, five of which have resulted in triples and two resulting in doubles.

Meanwhile, Simmons has made her impact with the long ball, smacking a team-best two home runs on the slate. Along with her home runs, Simmons has connected on seven doubles, resulting in a .680 slugging percentage and a .475 on-base percentage.

The top pitcher on the Battling Bishops' staff is Morgan Aycock, who is boasting a 1.56 ERA and a 5-3 mark in the circle. She has tossed a team-best 58.1 innings, surrendering 19 runs, 13 earned runs and fanned 45 opposing hitters along the way.

N.C. Wesleyan has a commanding 12-4 lead in the all-time series against the Spirits, winning the last three meetings. 

All-Time Series (vs. N.C. Wesleyan)