WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem softball team completes its final home regular season USA South Conference clash of the season on Wednesday, April 20th, when it hosts Mary Baldwin in a doubleheader that is slated for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Spirits have won four games at Blixt Field this season, earning a pair of sweeps against Shaw (March 19) and Southern Virginia (April 6). Salem (5-23, 2-12 USA South) is looking to put the brakes on a six-game losing streak that began with a 7-4 setback to Averett on April 9th.

SALEM STATISTICAL LEADERS: Heading into the last full week of the season, Salem is led offensively by the tandem of Madison Thomas (33 hits) and Brianne Coleman (28). While Thomas leads in total hits, Coleman is tops on the unit in batting average (.389) and hitting 10 points higher than her classmate, who is boasting a .379 average.

Coleman also leads Salem in doubles (nine), home runs (three) and is tied with both Thomas and Madeline Brown in triples with one. In 72 at bats for the Spirits this season, Coleman has had just two strikeouts, also tops for the Spirits.

Thomas (3-9) has been the anchor in the circle for Salem this season, logging 100.2 innings and making 3.55 strikeouts per seven innings. She has tallied 51 total strikeouts on the season and issued 31 walks along the way.

The trio of Katie Gerhardt (10), Kat Price (seven) and Abby Shelton (six) have also made multiple appearances for Salem in 2022. Gerhardt has tossed 21 innings, making 10 strikeouts along the way. Shelton has four K's to her credit in 12.2 innings, while Price has logged 27.1 innings and has one strikeout.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Four of the top six hitters in the Salem lineup are first-year performers for head coach Kierston Garner. They include Madeline Brown (.269 batting average), Arianna Ryan (.241), Faythe Bowles (.224) and Carlee McWilliam (.217).

The quartet has combined for five doubles, one triple (Brown) and one home run (Ryan) over the course of the season, resulting in a combined .237 batting average. They have also combined for 12 RBI, two stolen bases (Ryan).

More impressive, the group is providing Garner a solid foundation for the future infield at Salem with a combined 304 putouts, 78 assists and committing just 20 errors, resulting in a .950 fielding percentage.

MARY BALDWIN ANALYSIS: The Fighting Squirrels make their trip to the Triad with a 9-22-1 overall record and a 4-10 mark in USA South Conference action. Mary Baldwin has earned just two wins on the road this season.

Mary Baldwin has split its last four games, winning the second game of a doubleheader with Southern Virginia by an 8-4 margin after dropping game one, 4-3. The Fighting Squirrels also managed to post a 2-0 win over Meredith on April 16th, however they fell in the nightcap by a 12-3 margin.

The Fighting Squirrels have six hitters to play in at least 10 games this season, including Hadley May. May leads the lineup with a .394 batting average, coming through with 26 hits, 10 doubles and three home runs, resulting in 11 RBI. Marybeth Strickler is the team leader in hits (31) and stolen bases (29), while Allison Crum and Lacey Morris lead the way in RBI with 16 apiece.

Morgan Hughes (5-10) is responsible for most wins and lowest ERA (4.75) on the pitching staff after tossing 98.2 innings this season. Hughes has fanned 43 opposing hitters and allowed just 67 earned runs along the way. Molly Thompson is second in most wins (3-8), logging 71 innings and coming through with 33 K's, two less than Strickler, who is second on the Fighting Squirrels pitching staff.

ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS MARY BALDWIN
(Salem leads series 7-2)