NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Salem softball team completed the first day of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic with a series of setbacks to Gettysburg (12-4, 5 inn.) and Montclair State (8-0) in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Tuesday, March 8th.
Game 1: Gettysburg 12, Salem 4 (5 inn.)
Salem had its best single-game hitting performance of the season against the Bullets, closing with 10 hits. Abby Shelton (3-3, 2 runs) led the Spirits from the plate, while Brianne Coleman (2-2, run, double) and Arianna Ryan (2-3) also had multiple hits. Carlee McWilliam came through with a double for Salem, finishing 1-for-3 at the plate.
Abby Shelton (1-2) made the start in the circle, tossing 3.2 innings where she allowed nine runs on six hits. She gave way to Madison Thomas, who tossed 0.2 innings, allowed three runs on three hits.
Gettysburg's Julia Smith capped off a solid day at the plate, where she was 2-for-3, with three RBI and a run. The trio of Julia Schinik, Allegra DeCandia and Bailey Quinn all contributed two RBI for the Bullets.
The Bullets stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the home half of the first, but Madison Thomas reached on an error at third that slid Cree Bass into scoring position and Abby Shelton home in the second.
McWilliam sliced the Gettysburg lead to 4-2 in the fourth with a double to left, plating Thomas. However, the Bullets tallied six runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a pair of two RBI hits from Smith and DeCandia, assuming a 10-2 advantage.
Shelton helped her own effort in the fifth, singling to centerfield to score Coleman for the third Salem run. Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Shelton for the final Salem run of the game.
Gettysburg tacked on one run in the fifth to make for the 12-4 final. Jasmin Herrera (2-0) grabbed the win in the circle, fanning four Spirits over the course of the game.
Game 2: Montclair State 8, Salem 0
Faythe Bowles emerged with the first multi-hit game of her collegiate career, finishing 2-for-2 from the plate, while teammate Brianne Coleman was 1-for-3 for Salem. Kat Price (0-1) made her first start in the circle for Salem, scattering eight runs (five earned) over seven innings.
Meanwhile, Montclair State pounded out 13 hits and three players finished with three hits each, to push the Red Hawks to an 8-0 victory in the second game of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.
Jenna Meluso closed out the game with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate for Montclair State, connecting on two doubles along the way. Katie DeBell (3-3, RBI, 2 runs) and Amber Reed (3-3, RBI, 2 runs, double) also came through with solid performances for the Red Hawks. Ali Cavallaro picked up her second win of the season after tossing a complete game three-hitter, recording five strikeouts along the way.
DeBell broke a scoreless game in the fourth with a single to left field that scored Kayla Cosentino. Reed followed with a single to right, scoring DeBell, as the lead grew to 2-0.
The Red Hawks stretched their lead to 5-0 in the sixth frame when Alexis Law scored on a fielder's choice by Chloe Saperstein. Meluso dropped a base hit to right, scoring both Reed and DeBell in the process.
The final three runs crossed the plate in the seventh for Montclair State. Law brought Anita Hassen on a bases-clearing triple for the sixth run. Reed slapped a double to centerfield, scoring Law for the 7-0 lead, before a single to short by Alyssa Borozan allowed Reed to cross the plate for the eighth run.
Salem will now square off against DeSales (9:30 a.m.) and Centenary (11:30 a.m.) on Wednesday. To watch the games live click this link. To search live stream by fields click here.