WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem softball team looks to build on the momentum established in a 5-4 victory over Centenary (N.J.), which concluded the Fastpitch Dreams Classic on March 9th, when it hosts Shaw on Saturday, March 19th at Blixt Field. The first game of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. and the second game will begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.
Salem is looking for consecutive wins for the first time since the Spirits downed FDU-Florham by scores of 2-0 and 6-0 on March 11, 2020. Those victories over the Devils marked the conclusion of the 2020 season, due to COVID-19, and tied the 2017 unit for the longest winning streak in program history—nine games.
Saturday's contests mark the first-ever meeting between Salem (1-11) and Shaw. Shaw, and NCAA Division II program, competes in the CIAA. The Bears are 0-9 overall and have dropped their last 14 games dating back to 2021. The last win for Shaw came on February 27, 2021 against Meredith, who they defeated 6-5.
ANALYZING THE SPIRITS: Through the first 12 games of the season, Brianne Coleman (.419) is one of three Salem sluggers with a .300 batting average or better along with Madison Thomas (.324) and Faythe Bowles (.300).
Coleman, who has capitalized on 13 hits in 31 at bats, has four doubles and four RBI to her credit. She also has a .500 on-base percentage and a .645 slugging percentage, both tops for the Spirits.
Thomas is second on the team in hits (12), including a triple, and is responsible for four RBI. Bowles has played in eight games for Salem, posting six hits in 20 at bats. Another key figure in the Salem offense is Savanah Atkins, who leads the way with team-best eight RBI and two home runs.
Thomas is also instrumental in the circle for the Spirits, owning a 5.39 ERA along with the team's lone victory. In 39 innings she has recorded 16 K's and 2.87 strikeouts per seven innings. Teammate Kat Price has the lowest ERA (5.00), capped off her first collegiate start by surrendering just one walk and five earned runs.
BREAKING DOWN THE BEARS: Shaw is led at the plate by Destiny Beckham, who has a .348 batting average after connecting on a team-high eight hits in 23 at bats. Beckham has one of four doubles on the season for the Bears and among the top three sluggers in on-base percentage (.375-4th) and slugging percentage (.391-2nd).
Regina DeDecker is second on the team in hits with six to her credit, leading the way in RBI (six). She is the only player on the Shaw roster with multiple extra-base hits, coming through with a double and a triple this season.
Syhia Marks tops the unit in the circle with 10 strikeouts and a 3.71 ERA. Brianna Smith has logged the most innings pitched (21.2), but is responsible for a 12.60 ERA.
