DOBSON, N.C. – Salem slugger Brianne Coleman enjoyed the first multi-HR game of her collegiate career on Tuesday afternoon when she blasted a pair home runs over the centerfield wall in a clash with Surry Community College, moving her career total to 15. Coleman, who finished with multiple hits in both games, was unable to help the Spirits claim a win in the doubleheader, falling 16-2 and 13-4 in succession.
GAME 2: Surry CC 13, Salem 4
Coleman's blasts accounted for three of the four runs in the second game of the doubleheader as she finished 2-of-3 from the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Teammates Madison Thomas and Arianna Ryan also came through with one hit each for the top-third of the Spirit lineup.
The Spirits (0-2) scored their first run of the game when Madeline Brown doubled through the left side of the infield, scoring Thomas from second. Coleman followed with a two-run dinger to left center, providing Salem with a 3-0 advantage.
Surry bounced back to score five in the home half of the first, capitalizing on four hits and two Spirit miscues. The Knights followed with a three-run frame in the second, again coming through with four hits, resulting in an 8-3 lead.
Coleman led off the third inning with a home run to right centerfield, cutting the Surry lead to four runs. Kelsey Craven retaliated with two-run home run of her own in the bottom of the third, extending the Knights' lead to 10-4. After a scoreless fourth, Craven lifted a double to left to account for the eleventh run of the game, trotting home quickly thereafter when Abbigail Draughn connected on a two-run home run over the centerfield wall.
Megan Atkins tossed a complete game win for the Knights, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out six Salem hitters. Thomas (0-1) hurled 4.2 innings for Salem, recording four strikeouts and allowing six earned runs.
GAME 1: Surry CC 16, Salem 2
Surry opened the afternoon with a decisive 16-2 victory in the first game of the series. The Knights closed with 13 hits and scored seven runs in both the first and fourth inning.
Coleman connected on the first hit of the season for Salem in the first inning, driving the ball through the left side of the infield to move teammate Arianna Ryan to third base. Carlee McWilliam picked up the first hit of her collegiate career in the second, singling to left.
Salem had two hits in the fourth, both marking the first in the careers of Katie Gerhardt and Faythe Bowles.
Ryan reached base with a single through the right side of the infield in the fifth, recording her first collegiate hit. Thomas followed with a single to short, moving Ryan into scoring position at second.
Brown drove the ball to right, scoring Ryan for the first run of the season. Coleman continued with a one-out single to short, before Kat Price reached on a single to right, scoring Brown on her first collegiate hit.
Three pitchers took the mound for Salem in the game, including Gerhardt (0-1), who suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits. Abby Shelton followed for 2.1 innings, converting two strikeouts, before giving way to Thomas. Thomas pitched the final inning, surrendering just one walk and one hit while recording a strikeout.
The Spirits return to action on Saturday, February 26th when they make the short trip to Greensboro to face Guilford at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
