DECATUR, Ga. – The Salem softball team earned its first series sweep of the season on Sunday, March 1, when it downed Agnes Scott by scores of 5-4 and 10-4 in Decatur, Ga. The victory marks the third by the Spirits in its last four games.
Salem (3-5) was led at offensively by the combination of Breanna Herman (3-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double), Brittany Morton (2-4, double), Miranda Barker (2-5, RBI, run, double) and Brianne Coleman (2-4, 3 RBI, run, HR). Collectively, the Spirits had 11 hits and had multi-run innings in the fourth, fifth and seventh.
Barker (1-3) grabbed her first win of the season after logging six innings, scattering 10 hits and four runs, while striking out three Agnes Scott hitters.
The Spirits struck first offensively in the fourth, when Jessica Cummings and Hannah Escala reached base after being hit by a pitch. Savanah Atkins followed with a double to centerfield, bring home the pair for an early 2-0 lead. Agnes Scott (2-8) pulled even in the bottom of the frame by virtue of a double to right field and a sacrifice bunt.
With one out and runners on the corners, following a throwing error at second, Herman connected on a double to right field that brought home the tandem of Amanda Dacunto and Cummings to give Salem a 4-2 advantage. Escala followed with a single up the middle, plating Herman, to stretch the lead to three runs.
Agnes Scott got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, which came via an RBI single up the middle by Jani Howington, which resulted in a 5-3 Salem lead. The Scotties followed that with a run in the sixth, on a single up the middle by Valerie Rivas, cutting the deficit to one.
Salem distanced itself in the top of the seventh after Herman led off the frame with a single to left. Escala reached on an error at second and Atkins loaded the bases by drawing a walk. Hannah Thompson grounded out to third, bringing home Herman, before recording the second out of the frame. Barker followed by singling up the middle, scoring Escala for the 7-4 Salem lead. Coleman then delivered a two-out three-run home run to left field, pushing the Spirit lead to 10-4.
Kayla Ogle came on in the bottom of the seventh to retire the side for Salem, who moves to 3-5 on the season.
GAME 1: Salem 5, Agnes Scott 4
A four-run fourth inning proved to be the deciding factor for the Spirits, who picked up their second win of the season and first against Agnes Scott on Sunday, March 1 in Decatur, Ga.
Facing a 1-0 deficit after three complete innings, Miranda Barker opened the fourth with a double to right center for the Spirits. Brianne Coleman followed with her second home run of the season, a two-run blast over the left field wall, as Salem forged in front 2-1.
Amanda Dacunto singled back to the pitcher and teammate Breanna Herman reached on a base hit to left field as Salem placed runners at first and second with no outs. Two batters later, Madison Burch connected on an RBI single to right field, plating Dacunto, to extend the lead to 3-1. Emma Gaston brought home the final run of the inning for Salem with a single to right that scored Herman from third.
The Spirits picked up their fifth run of the game in the top of the sixth when Gaston reached base on a single to right field. Brittany Morton dropped a single to right, moving Gaston into scoring position, and Hannah Thompson reached base on an error at third following a sacrifice bunt. With the bases loaded, Barker hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, moving Gaston home from third as Salem built a 5-1 lead.
The fourth run proved critical in the bottom of the seventh as Agnes Scott put three runs across the plate. The Scotties opened with a double to left centerfield by Sidney Strama, who was replaced on the base pads by Ashley Mabrey.
Kat Fernandez hit a triple into right centerfield, scoring Mabrey, before Valerie Rivas reached on a fielder's choice. Three batters later, Kayleigh Fitzgerald reached base on a double to right, scoring Rivas and Fernandez to trim the Salem lead to 5-4. Barker closed out the game, earning her first save of the season, by striking out Jani Howington to complete the win.
Salem (2-5) had four players with at least two hits in the game, including Herman, who finished 4-for-4 from the plate with a run scored. Gaston ended the opening game of the doubleheader with a 3-for-4 performance, recording an RBI and a run scored.
Barker, along with the save, was 2-for-3 from the plate with a double and a run. Dacunto, who finished with a run for Salem, was 2-for-4 from the plate.
Abby Shelton (1-0) made her collegiate debut on the mound, logging 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits along with three walks.
The Spirits return to action next weekend when they head to Randolph (March 7) for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and turn around to host Ferrum on March 8 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. For more information on Salem softball check out www.salemspirits.com.