ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Faythe Bowles delivered a two-RBI single to give Salem a lead it would not relinquish in game one and Carlee McWilliam finished the day with two hits in each game as Salem split the USA South Conference finale with a 4-2 win and a 13-2 (5 inning) setback in a clash with N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday, April 23rd in Rocky Mount, N.C.
GAME 1: Salem 4, N.C. Wesleyan 2
The Spirits (8-23, 5-12 USA South) were led by the freshman pair of Carlee McWilliam, who finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Arianna Ryan came through with a double to lead Salem to its third straight win, 4-2, in the opening game of the doubleheader.
The Battling Bishops (18-17, 8-9 USA South) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, which came on a bases-clearing double to centerfield by MK Raynor, who scored both Alexis Whitfield and Juliette Desmarais.
Salem sliced that lead in half in the top of the sixth behind McWilliam's RBI single to left field. The frame began with a walk of Brianne Coleman and after Savanah Atkins reached on a hit by pitch, Salem had two runners on the basepads. McWilliam welcomed the N.C. Wesleyan's Laila Holloway to the circle with a single to left that scored Coleman.
In the seventh, Kat Price opened with a single and moved to third base two batters later following Ryan's double to left. Coleman drew a walk to load the bases, setting the table for Atkins. Atkins drew a walk to tie the game as Price crossed the plate. Two batters later, Bowles delivered a single to left that scored the trio of Atkins, Coleman and Ryan in succession to provide Salem with the 4-1 lead.
Madison Thomas picked up her sixth win in the victory, surrendering just four hits, two runs and one earned run. Thomas, in the complete game performance, had three strikeouts for Salem.
GAME 2: N.C. Wesleyan 13, Salem 2 (5 innings)
Carlee McWilliam wrapped up her solid day against N.C. Wesleyan by coming through with a two-hit performance for the Spirits (8-24, 5-13 USA South). Teammate Brianne Coleman also delivered two hits for Salem, scoring one run along the way.
The Spirits carried over their solid hitting from game one early in game two, scoring two runs in the top of the second. Madison Thomas walked and quickly stole second before Coleman moved her to third with a single. Savanah Atkins struck out, but Coleman stole second on the play and Thomas crossed the plate for the first run.
McWilliam continued the inning for Salem, drawing a walk, ahead of a Katie Gerhardt single that loaded the bases. Cree Bass delivered a clutch single to centerfield, scoring Coleman from third, as Salem established a 2-0 advantage.
Molly Alejandro cut the Salem lead in half with a N.C. Wesleyan double to left in the second, scoring Juliette Desmarais in the process. The Battling Bishops had three doubles in the frame and moved in front 8-2.
N.C. Wesleyan had its second multi-run inning of the game in the fourth, putting across five runs on two hits. Three of the Battling Bishop runs scored by virtue of bases-loaded walks, while MK Raynor was responsible for two runs with a single to left.
Four pitchers entered the circle for Salem in the game, including starter Kat Price, who suffered the loss after allowing six runs in two innings. Thomas, Abby Shelton and Gerhardt also toed the rubber.
The Battling Bishops assumed the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs on eight hits.
Salem returns to Blixt Field for the final game of the season on Sunday, April 24th to face Carolina University. The games, which take place at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., will honor the 2022 Senior Class of Brianne Coleman, Abby Shelton and Madison Thomas. The Senior Day festivities will take place prior to game one.
