NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Salem softball team wrapped up its final day at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic by splitting a series of games. The Spirits posted a 5-4 win in the afternoon game against Centenary (N.J.) after suffering an 8-0 setback in the opening game of the day to DeSales.
Game 2: Salem 5, Centenary (N.J.) 4
Four Salem sluggers finished with two hits as the Spirits picked up a 5-4 win over Centenary (N.J.) in the final day of action at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.
Among those Salem (1-11) hitters with multi-hit performances was Madeline Brown, who closed 2-for-3 with a double, run and an RBI. The others included Madison Thomas (2-4, 2 RBI), Cree Bass (2-4, 2 runs) and Kat Price (2-2, RBI). Collectively, that group helped Salem finish with 12 hits.
Thomas was also solid on the mound for Salem, earning her first win of the season, after tossing a complete game seven-hitter that included a strikeout.
The Cyclones (2-5) established a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Abby Shelton drew a walk and Bass followed with a single to put two on in the second for Salem. Price singled to second, scoring Shelton, slicing the margin to 2-1. Thomas followed with a single to center, driving home Brown and Bass as the Spirits forged in front 3-2.
Centenary responded with a run in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on a throwing error, evening the score at three-all. Brown came through with a clutch bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the frame, plating Bass for the 4-3 lead.
The Cyclones responded by again knotting the game in the sixth, following a grounder to third. Brianne Coleman got the Salem offense started in the bottom of the sixth with a single to right. Faythe Bowles followed with a single up the middle, bringing Coleman home for the game-winning run, as Salem picked up its first win of the season.
Game 1: DeSales 8, Salem 0
Salem's Katie Gerhardt put together the first multi-strikeout performance of her collegiate career in the 8-0 setback to DeSales. Gerhardt struck out seven Bulldog hitters over five innings, allowing eight hits, six runs (four earned runs) in the morning session.
Joining Gerhardt in the circle for Salem was Savanah Atkins, who issued two walks, as well as Madison Thomas. Thomas hurled just two innings, allowing two runs on two hits in relief.
Salem (0-11) closed with seven hits in the contest, receiving two each from Thomas (2-4), Atkins (2-3) and Madeline Brown (2-3, double). Kat Price finished 1-for-3 for the Spirits.
DeSales assumed a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Reilly Kerr reached on a fielding miscue that allowed both Lily Trexler and Victoria Agnoli to come homeward for a pair of unearned runs.
The Spirits connected on two hits, but DeSales stretched its lead to 3-0 in the fourth on an RBI single to right centerfield by Kayleigh Ferraro that scored Abigail Rodriguez.
The Bulldogs doubled that margin with a three-run sixth innings, as Trexler, Agnoli and Ferraro all crossed the plate, making for a 6-0 contest.
Atkins came through with a two-out single in the sixth for Salem, but the Bulldogs answered with two runs in the home half of the seventh to earn the 8-0 win.
Tabbitha Lawless (2-0) tossed four innings for DeSales, allowing three hits and converting three strikeouts, before giving way to Rachel Lowry (S, 1). Lowry had one strikeout and surrendered four hits in three innings.
The top four of the Bulldog lineup was responsible for eight of the 10 hits. Olivia Ondrejca led the way with a 3-for-5 outing that included an RBI. Trexler (2-3, 3 runs) and Ferraro (2-5, RBI, run) also had multi-hit performances. Agnoli, who batted second, finished off the game by going 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.