WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem softball team begins USA South Conference action this weekend when it hosts a doubleheader on Saturday, March 26th at Blixt Field. The first game will take place at 1 p.m. and the second will follow approximately 45 minutes after conclusion of the first.
SPIRITS RIDING THREE-GAME WINNING STREAK: The Spirits enter the weekend riding a three-game winning streak after wins over Centenary (N.J.) (3-0) and Shaw (3-0 / 10-9) on March 19th and 26th, respectively.
The Salem softball program has had at least one three-game winning streak every year in program history, dating back to its induction in 2012.
| Season | No. of 3+ game streaks |
| (number in parantheses indicates streak length) | |
| 2012 | 1 (4 game) |
| 2013 | 2 (3 game) |
| 2014 | 2 (3 game) |
| 2015 | 2 (3 game) |
| 1 (7 game) | |
| 1 (5 game) | |
| 2016 | 1 (4 game) |
| 1 (6 game) | |
| 1 (4 game) | |
| 1 (3 game) | |
| 1 (5 game) | |
| 2017 | 3 (3 game) |
| 1 (9 game) | |
| 2018 | 3 (3 game) |
| 1 (4 game) | |
| 1 (5 game) | |
| 2019 | 1 (3 game) |
| 2 (6 game) | |
| 1 (4 game) | |
| 2020 | 1 (9 game) |
SALEM IN LEAGUE OPENERS: Salem will open USA South Conference play this weekend against Meredith.
The Spirits are 10-6 all-time in conference openers in program history, which includes games against Great South Athletic Conference foes during Salem's time in the league from 2012-16. Since moving to the USA South, in 2017, Salem has posted a 5-1 mark all-time in league openers, conducting sweeps against Huntingdon (2017) and Meredith (2018) before splitting a series with N.C. Wesleyan in 2019.
Furthermore, the Spirits are 11-5 when hosting conference foes at Blixt Field since the 2012 season, a mark that also includes clashes with members of the Great South Athletic Conference. Salem is 5-1 all-time when facing USA South Conference members at home, since joining the league in 2017. The Spirits have swept both Wesleyan (Ga.) (2017) and Meredith (2018) at Blixt Field, while splitting with N.C. Wesleyan in the 2019 league opener.
Salem did not compete against any league foes in 2020 because the season was cancelled before the Spirits were able to play at Greensboro on March 15th.
SALEM STATISTICAL LEADERS: Salem, which is 3-11 on the season, is led at the plate by the duo of Brianne Coleman and Madison Thomas.
Coleman leads all Spirit sluggers with a .432 batting average, connecting on 16 hits and a team-best five doubles. Coleman, who's responsible for the best on-base percentage (.512) and slugging percentage (.649) on the team, has delivered six RBI and struck out only once for Salem this season.
Thomas is tied with her teammate for the team lead in hits (16), but leads all Salem hitters with seven RBI. She owns the second-best on-base percentage (.426) and slugging percentage (.419) and has capitalized while on base for Salem by swiping a team-high four stolen bases.
Entering the weekend, Madeline Brown and Carlee McWilliam are looking to become the next set of sluggers to reach double-digit hits for Salem, both accruing nine through the first 14 games.
Thomas is also making her impact felt in the circle for the Spirits, owning a 4.34 ERA in 11 appearances. She has made seven starts for Salem and has a 3-5 record in the circle. In 51.2 innings, Thomas has allowed just 50 runs (32 earned runs) and struck out 30 opposing hitters along the way, averaging 4.06 strikeouts per seven innings.
The quartet of Savanah Atkins (0-0), Abby Shelton (0-2), Kat Price (0-1) and Katie Gerhardt (0-3) have also entered the pitching circle for Salem this season. Gerhardt has emerged with nine strikeouts, while Shelton has four to her credit.
LOOKING AT THE AVENGING ANGELS: Meredith makes the in-state trek to Winston-Salem this weekend with an 11-3 mark after winning 11 straight contests since February 20th. That afternoon, the Avenging Angels earned a pair of 6-5 victories at home against Guilford College, winning six games in that stretch by allowing two runs or less.
Meredith has 10 players with at least a .300 batting average, including Alyssa Drake, who leads the way with a .545 batting average, .580 on-base percentage and .864 slugging percentage. Drake is 24-of-44 from the plate with six doubles, two home runs and a triple in 2022. She has amassed 19 RBI and six stolen bases along the way.
Teammate Fallon Wimberly, responsible for a .517 batting average, .531 on-base percentage and .690 slugging percentage, has also been a vital part to Meredith's success with 15 hits, two triples and 12 RBI. Sarah Manis has the second-most hits for the Avenging Angels (20), which has resulted in three doubles, one triple and a home run.
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS MEREDITH
(Salem leads series 6-4)
| Date | Season | Opponent | Result | Salem | Opp | Inns |
| Feb. 23 | 2014 | at Meredith | L | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| March 18 | 2017 | vs. Meredith * | W | 7 | 6 | 10 |
| March 18 | 2017 | vs. Meredith * | W | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| April 14 | 2018 | vs. Meredith > | W | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| March 10 | 2018 | vs. Meredith * | L | 3 | 9 | 7 |
| March 10 | 2018 | vs. Meredith * | W | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| April 26 | 2019 | vs. Meredith > | W | 11 | 6 | 7 |
| March 31 | 2019 | at Meredith * | W | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| March 31 | 2019 | at Meredith * | L | 5 | 8 | 7 |
