WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Madison Thomas put together an all-around performance on Saturday afternoon, both at the plate and in the circle, to help lead Salem to a doubleheader sweep of Shaw by scores of 3-0 and 10-9. Thomas' afternoon included 14 strikeouts in the circle and a 4-for-6 outing from the plate that resulted in three RBI and four runs scored, including a walk-off single in the second game to complete a five-run rally.
Game 1: Salem 3, Shaw 0
Madison Thomas had a dominating performance in the circle, closing with a career-high nine strikeouts, as Salem posted a 3-0 victory over Shaw in the opening game. The Matthews, N.C., native tossed a complete game, four-hit shutout for the Spirits, who ran their winning streak to two games triumphing over Centenary (N.J.) 10 days ago.
It is the first time that Salem has claimed consecutive wins since defeating FDU-Florham by scores of 2-0 and 6-0 on March 11, 2020, which coincidentally marked the last shut outs for Salem.
The nine strikeouts, which included multiple strikeouts in the second and fifth frames, tied Thomas for 15th-most in program history alongside Miranda Baker and Abby Settles. Baker accomplished the feat twice in her career versus Brandeis (Feb. 20, 2018) and Southern Virginia (Feb. 15, 2019). Settles had a nine-strikeout performance in a clash with Covenant (April 14, 2012).
The top half of the order, which included Thomas as the leadoff hitter, provided the run support for the Spirits. Thomas herself finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, while both Carlee McWilliam and Brianne Coleman ended the game with 2-for-3 outings. Coleman's day included a double and an RBI.
Thomas led off the first inning with a walk and quickly moved to second on a passed ball. Two batters later, Coleman brought Thomas home with a single up the middle, giving Salem a 1-0 lead.
One inning later, Salem stretched its lead to 2-0 when Thomas drew a two-out walk and slid into second on a stolen base. McWilliam delivered a clutch single through the left side of the infield as Thomas pushed the lead to 2-0 on a throwing miscue by the shortstop. Coleman moved McWilliam to third with a double to right field, but the Spirits were unable to capitalize with two runners on base.
After a scoreless third, the Spirits notched their final run of the game in the fourth. Madeline Brown reached on a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch with McWilliam at the plate. McWilliam singled to short and advanced on an error, while Brown trotted home for the 3-0 lead.
Game 2: Salem 10, Shaw 9
Shaw established a 9-4 lead through six innings, capitalizing on a two-run first inning and a four-run second along the way. However, the Spirits (3-11) evened the game with a five-run sixth by virtue of four hits, setting the stage for a dramatic seventh inning single by Madison Thomas, scoring Arianna Ryan from second for the walk-off 10-9 victory.
The rally began in the sixth when Ryan led off the inning with a double to left. Madeline Brown followed with a walk and the pair moved into scoring position with a grounder by Kat Price. Thomas reached on a fielder's choice to third, scoring both Brown and Ryan while moving to second on the throw.
Carlee McWilliam pulled the Spirits to within two, 9-7, with a single to right field that plated Thomas. Brianne Coleman tacked on the eighth run of the game for Salem with a single up the middle that scored McWilliam. Faythe Bowles drove a single to second, scoring Coleman on the play, to even the game at nine-all.
Thomas stepped into the circle and struck out two Shaw batters in the top half of the seventh and took the third out off of her leg as the Spirits kept Shaw scoreless.
Ryan again came through in the clutch for Salem, leading off the seventh with a single to left. With one out, Ryan stole second and Price reached on a walk, setting the stage for Thomas. Thomas delivered Salem's third win of the season with a single to right that scored Ryan on a throwing error at short.
Shaw grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the game in the first, but Coleman came through with a pop foul to first that advanced Thomas from third on a fielding error for the first Salem run.
The Spirits put two more across in the third inning, making for a 6-3 contest. Coleman scored on a wild pitch from third for the second run of the afternoon. Abby Shelton notched her first RBI of the season with a grounder to short, scoring Savanah Atkins for the second run of the frame.
Thomas singlehandedly delivered the fourth Salem run of the contest with a one-out hit up the middle that scored Brown from third.
Thomas capped off the second day by finishing 3-of-4 from the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Joining her with multiple hits was Ryan (2-2, 2 runs) and Brown (2-3, 2 runs). Both Ryan and Brown had a double for the Spirits.
Thomas picked up her third win in the circle after logging 5.2 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just three runs (two earned). She fanned five Shaw hitters in the process.
The Spirits continue their homestand with a doubleheader against Meredith on Saturday, March 26th in Winston-Salem. The first game is set for 1 p.m. and the second game approximately at 3 p.m.
