WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After competing in a pair of exhibition games against Surry Community College on February 15th, the Salem softball team begins regular season action this weekend with a pair of road doubleheaders at Guilford (Feb. 26) and Ferrum (Feb. 27).

A victory over Guilford in the first game of the series would break a tie with the 2017 unit for the longest winning streak—nine games—which began with a 4-1 win over Huntingdon on February 29, 2020. Salem followed that victory against the Hawks by claiming wins over Agnes Scott, Randolph, Ferrum and FDU-Florham, before the season was halted due to the pandemic.

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.

RECAPPING THE CLASH WITH THE KNIGHTS: Salem slugger Brianne Coleman enjoyed the first multi-HR game of her collegiate career on February 15th when she blasted a pair home runs over the centerfield wall in a clash with Surry Community College. 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 ONE SYNOPSIS: 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 connected on a hit in the second, singling to left. Salem had two hits in the fourth, coming from the tandem of Katie Gerhardt and Faythe Bowles.

GAME TWO SYNOPSIS: 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 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.

PREVIEWING THE QUAKERS: Guilford remains in search of its first win of the season after an 0-6 start with setbacks to Pfeiffer, William Peace and Meredith in succession. The Quakers have played just one series at Haworth Field, dropping the home opener to Pfeiffer on February 12th by scores of 8-3 and 9-5 (8 innings) in succession. Salem is looking for its first-ever series win at Guilford in the history of the series, which dates back to 2012. The last win at Guilford by the Spirits came on February 12, 2017 by a 9-3 margin. 

Guilford made a four-game, two-day trip to the Triangle, suffering setbacks to William Peace (6-5 / 17-7 {5 inn.}) and Meredith (6-5 / 6-5) on February 19th and 20th, respectively.

The Quakers have three hitters who have played in at least four games that own at least a .400 batting average, including Nikki Tuttle (.625), Kassidy Lancos (.455) and Caitlyn Ray (.409). Lancos leads the team in total hits (10) and RBI (five), while Ray has the most extra-base hits (five), by virtue of four doubles and a home run.

Shiloh Gray, who has logged 20 innings in the circle for Guilford, leads the team in strikeouts (six) and hits allowed (28).

ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS GUILFORD
(Quakers lead series 10-4)

PREVIEWING FERRUM: Ferrum has played just one series throughout the first month of the season, which resulted in a pair of losses to Greensboro on February 19th. The Pride took the opening game of the series by a 3-2 score and rolled to a 10-2 win in the nightcap. The Spirits lead the all-time series by an 8-2 margin and have won the last five straight against Ferrum since claiming a 5-1 win on March 23, 2018. 

Laney Jo Patterson is one of five Panther sluggers with two hits on the early season, finishing 2-for-3 (.667 batting avg.) with a double and an RBI in one game against Greensboro. Teammate Arielle Eure leads all Ferrum sluggers in hits (three) and runs (two).

Lyndsey Sears (0-1) has tossed a team-high six innings for Ferrum, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out two Greensboro batters.

ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS FERRUM
(Spirits lead series 8-2)