WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Salem slugger Savanah Atkins capped off a two-game series against Carolina University by recording six RBI and two hits, including a three-run home run. The Spirits suffered a 4-3 setback in the first game of the series and a 15-5 setba¬ck in the second game as Carolina won both games in the first-ever series between the two programs.
GAME 1: Carolina 4, Salem 3
The Bruins earned the victory in the first game on a walk-off sacrifice fly into right field by Kourtney Cox, which brought home teammate Makinnia Hill from third. The victory provided Lyric Ryan, who tossed 2.1 innings, allowing just one walk along the way, her second win in the circle.
Salem struck first in the game, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the third when Madison Thomas reached on fielder's choice. Madeline Brown drove a ball deep to left field, which ricocheted off Carolina's Nicole Otto's glove, allowing Thomas to trot home.
Carolina evened the score in the fourth when Maggie Smith connected on a home run over the left field wall.
The Spirits regained the advantage in the top of the fifth by manufacturing two runs. Carlee McWilliam reached base on a field error at third and moved to third when Thomas drove a single off the pitcher that put runners on the corners. Thomas stole second to put both runners in scoring position for Salem. Savanah Atkins endured an 18-pitch at-bat, delivering a single down the left field line, which scored both McWilliam and Thomas.
With the Spirits leading 3-1, Carolina answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame, knotting the contest at three-all.
The two teams were scoreless in the sixth and Salem's offense did not record a hit in the seventh, setting the stage for the seventh inning walk-off.
Atkins, who finished 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, was one of four Salem sluggers with a hit. The others included Thomas (1-4, 2 run), Brianne Coleman (1-3) and Faythe Bowles (1-2). Thomas logged 4.1 innings, surrendered five hits, one walk and one run, while notching two strikeouts. Abby Shelton also entered the circle, tossing 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, three runs while fanning two Bruin hitters.
Ryan was preceded on the mound by Danielle Brooks, who logged 4.2 innings, allowed four hits, three runs and converted two strikeouts.
GAME 2: Carolina 15, Salem 5 (5 innings)
Savanah Atkins was again the primary source of offense for the Spirits, finishing 1-for-3 from the plate with four RBI and a run scored. Teammate Madison Thomas accounted for two Salem hits in the contest, finish 2-for-2 from the plate, while logging 2.1 innings on the mound. Thomas capped off her pitching performance with three strikeouts for Salem, which slipped to 0-6 on the season.
Thomas opened the game with a single to third, moving to second on a passed ball with Madeline Brown at the plate. Brown drew a walk and Thomas would eventually put runners on the corners with a stolen base. Atkins crushed a three-run home run over the left field wall to provide Salem with the first runs of the contest.
Carolina (7-11) put its first run across in the second, cutting the margin to 3-1, on an infield miscue. Salem regained the three-run lead in the top of the third when Brianne Coleman reached on a single to centerfield. Faythe Bowles followed with a grounder to third, advancing Coleman in the process, before Cress Bass slapped a single to left that resulted in a 4-1 Salem advantage.
The Bruins forged in front in the home half of the third, scoring 10 runs by virtue of seven hits and four errors, assuming the 11-4 lead. The Spirits scored their final run of the day in the fourth when Atkins drove a fly ball to left, scoring Carlee McWilliam from third.
Carolina had its second multi-run inning of the game in the fourth, scoring two runs off two hits, assuming a 15-5 lead in the process.
Salem will make the quick return to the field on Sunday, March 6th, when the Spirits close out the weekend by hosting Randolph with a doubleheader that begins at 12 p.m.
