GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro softball team earned its first-ever doubleheader sweep in its 14-game head-to-head series with Salem when The Pride posted wins of 2-0 and 6-3 at Latham Park in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday, April 2nd.
GAME 1: Greensboro 2, Salem 0
The Pride (16-5, 4-1 USA South) were led in the first game by Cheyanne Cox (6-3), who held Salem to just two hits over seven innings in a 2-0 victory.
Cox issued four walks on the afternoon and struck out 13 batters along the way. The two hits that she surrendered to Salem belonged to Carlee McWilliam (1-3) and Madison Thomas (1-3).
Thomas (3-8) also entered the circle for Salem (3-16, 0-5 USA South), finishing with three strikeouts and issuing just six hits in six innings of work.
Greensboro broke a scoreless tie in the fifth when Hannah French doubled to lead off the frame. She moved to third on a sacrifice by Caroline Stanley, scooting home with an RBI single by Kailey Walker.
Two batters later, with Walker at second, Alexis Sox delivered a single that plated Walker for the second run of the contest. Thomas opened the sixth inning with a double to left, looking to kick start the Salem offense, but she was unable to score after advancing to third on a grounder by Brianne Coleman.
GAME 2: Greensboro 6, Salem 3
The top-third of the Salem (3-17, 0-6 USA South) lineup provided the punch in the second game, led by Madison Thomas (3-4, 2 runs, double) and Ariana Ryan (2-4, run) and Brianne Coleman (1-2, 2 RBI, double). Also collecting a hit for the Spirits were Carlee McWilliam (1-4) and Madeline Brown (1-3).
Greensboro (17-5, 5-1 USA South) had just one slugger with multiple hits, Caroline Stanley, who finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Teammate Hannah French delivered The Pride's only extra-base hit, a triple, in the second game of the day.
Stanley provided Greensboro with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly by Kassie Simmons.
Salem answered with a two-run third, when Thomas reached on a two-out single. Ryan followed with a single that moved Thomas to second, before Coleman connected on a double that scored her teammates for the 2-1 Spirit lead.
Greensboro regained the lead in the fourth when Kassie Simmons lead off the inning with a single. Ivy Ray reached base on an error, moving Simmons homeward to even the score at 2-2. Ray moved to third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a M'Kenzie Davis single to provide Greensboro with a 3-2 lead.
A three-run sixth inning stretched the Greensboro lead to 6-2. The big hit came from French, who had a bases-clearing two RBI triple that scored Madison Dillner and Brooke Kinley. Stanley followed with a single that scored French for the sixth and final run.
Savanah Atkins was responsible for the final Salem run of the afternoon, reaching on a fielder's choice that brought home Thomas and moved Ryan to third.
Salem will make its return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 6th, when it hosts Southern Virginia for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.