Next Games:
Salem at Southern Virginia | Buena Vista, Va. | Harvey-Dryden Field | April 11 | 2 p.m. / 4 p.m.
LAST GAME RECAP (vs. Pfeiffer)
The Salem softball team faced its first nationally ranked opponent in program history, No. 23 Pfeiffer, and suffered a pair of setbacks by scores of 6-0 and 9-0 (5 innings), when the two teams collided at Jack Ingram Field on Thursday, April 6th in a USA South Conference battle.
Salem limited the Falcons to six runs in the opening game of the doubleheader, while receiving one hit each from the duo of Lauryn Fisher and Cree Bass. Bass' hit resulted in a double, her second extra-base hit of the season. Spirits pitcher Kat Price notched her fifth complete game performance in the circle this season, scattering 10 hits, six runs and surrendering just one walk.
The Falcons had a pair of multi-run innings, which came in the second and third, resulting in the 6-0 victory. Offensively, Kenzi Lyall (3-4, 2 RBI, run) and Emma Bullin (2-3, RBI, run, double) were the offensive leaders.
The second game was highlighted by a pair of hits from Madeline Brown and Maleah Tate, while Alli Stertzbach and Katie Gerhardt entered the circle for Salem. Brown and Tate delivered singles for the Salem offense, while both Stertzbach and Gerhardt tallied one strikeout apiece.
The Falcons registered seven hits in the five-inning game two victory, led by Kenzi Lyall, who was 3-for-3 with three RBI. Lyall delivered a double and a three-run home run to lead the way for the offense. Emma Chopko finished off the win with a double, while Taylor Parrish was 1-for-1 with two RBI as a pinch hitter.
SALEM HIGHLIGHTS | Game 1
-Spirits closed the game with two hits, one each from Bass and Fisher.
-Marks the first-ever time in program history that Salem has face a ranked opponent, Pfeiffer was ranked No. 23 nationally.
-Bass, who connected on a double in the top of the seventh, notched her second extra-base hit of the season.
-Fisher posted her hit in the fourth, advancing Bass to second and Savanah Atkins to third.
-Price tossed her team-best fifth complete game of the season, scattering 10 hits, six runs (five earned runs) while issuing one walk.
SALEM HIGHLIGHTS | Game 2
-Brown led the game off with a single to shortstop, but was stranded at the close of the frame.
-Tate delivered the second hit of the contest for Salem in the fifth, hitting it back in the direction of the pitcher.
-Alli Stertzbach faced nine batters in the game, allowing seven runs on three hits, while walking four hitters.
-Katie Gerhardt entered the game in relief, tossing 3.1 innings, while allowing four hits and two walks, fanning one Pfeiffer hitter.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE SPIRITS
On Tuesday afternoon, the Spirits are putting the finishing touches on a six-game road swing with a pair of clashes at Southern Virginia. Salem began the road trip against Mary Baldwin (April 5) and followed that with a marathon series against Pfeiffer on Thursday, April 6th.
Upon completing the six-game road stretch, Salem will return to Blixt Field on Saturday, April 15th, to host Greensboro in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The game against The Pride will also serve as a Strike Out Cancer Game.
TOPPING THE CHARTS FOR THE SPIRITS
Salem has played in 20 games this season and has two sluggers—Madeline Brown and Carlee McWilliam—boasting at least a .300 batting average. Brown leads the way with a .373 batting average, while McWilliam is second with a .350 average.
Brown leads the team six major statistical categories including hits (19), doubles (six), stolen bases (five), runs (13), on-base percentage (.459) and slugging percentage (.549). She has put together the longest hitting streak of the season, which spanned 10 games from March 19-April 5.
McWilliam, who has played in 16 games, has connected on 14 hits and four doubles along the way, both second-most on the team. Her .450 slugging percentage and .413 on-base percentage are second among Salem sluggers and like Brown she has had an extensive hitting streak this season. McWilliam's streak spanned eight contests from March 11-March 26.
Cree Bass is third on the team in total hits with nine, while the trio of Savanah Atkins, Jessica Pinnix and Kat Price are log jammed for fourth-most hits with eight apiece.
On the mound, Price has made her presence felt with a 4.23 ERA, lowest on the team. In 49.2 innings, Price has allowed 30 earned runs in 90 hits and issued just 10 walks while converting five strikeouts. Teammate Alli Stertzbach tops the staff in strikeouts (23), while Katie Gerhardt is second with 10.
ANALYZING THE KNIGHTS
Salem Head-to-Head vs. Southern Virginia: Salem heads to Southern Virginia with an 8-0 advantage in the all-time head-to-head series between the two programs. The first meeting came on February 17, 2017, where the Spirits earned wins by scores of 11-1 and 9-0 at Blixt Field. The Knights returned to Winston-Salem 364 days later, suffering setbacks of 11-2 and 9-0 to Salem in the 2018 doubleheader. Salem claimed a pair of 10-0 victories against Southern Virginia in the 2019 clash and followed that with a pair of wins by 6-3 and 9-1 a season ago.
Southern Virginia has a 15-11 record at this point of the season and is 3-5 in USA South Conference play. The Knights have earned five of their victories at Harvey-Dryden Field after a series split with Brevard on April 1st. Southern Virginia recently faced Greensboro (April 5), posting a 4-3 win in the first game before falling 2-0 in the nightcap of the series.
Playing in 16 games, where she has made 11 starts, Matea Manuleleua tops the Knights in hitting with a .400 batting average by virtue of 20 hits in 38 at bats. She has scored 17 runs, made three doubles and accounted for 13 RBI, resulting in a .605 slugging percentage along with a .561 on-base percentage.
Arianna Prymak (.352) and Jaci Shumway (.351) are also among the leading sluggers for Southern Virginia. Prymak has come through with nine extra-base hits, including five triples and four doubles, while Shumway is responsible for 10 doubles and 21 RBI. Teammate Krystal Kemp leads all Knight hitters in RBI with 28.
Along with being one of the top sluggers on the team, Prymak is also among the top pitchers for the Knights. She is 8-4 on the season, giving her the most wins of any individual, along with topping the unit in strikeouts (43) and lowest batting average by the opposition (.287) among hurlers with at least 10 starts. She has allowed just 35 runs (28 earned runs) and issued 18 walks along the way.