Next Game:
Salem vs. Greensboro | Winston-Salem, N.C. | Blixt Field Field | April 15 | 1:00 / 3:00 p.m. | Strikeout Cancer Game
LAST GAME RECAP (vs. Southern Virginia)
The Southern Virginia softball team snapped an eight-game losing streak to Salem by combining for 33 runs and 33 hits in a doubleheader sweep by scores of 18-0 and 15-5 in USA South Conference action at Harvey-Dryden Field on Tuesday, April 11th.
The Knights opened the afternoon by putting together the second perfect game by a Salem opponent in program history. The last perfect game in program history came by Virginia Wesleyan on February 24, 2018. In the game, Southern Virginia was responsible for three doubles, four triples and a home run, which came from Katie Claytor.
Salem responded in the second game with five runs, two of which came off the bat of senior Savanah Atkins, who cracked a two-run home run in the third inning. Atkins finished the game 2-of-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while teammate Maleah Tate also had a two-hit performance, scoring two runs and accounting for one RBI in the game.
The top four hitters—which consisted of Madeline Brown, Kat Price, Atkins and Shelby LaPoint—combined for five of Salem's seven hits in the game. The trio of Brown, Price and LaPoint were responsible for one each. Katie Gerhardt tossed the complete game for Salem, allowing 15 hits and 15 runs (10 earned), while fanning two Southern Virginia sluggers.
SOUTHERN VIRGINIA HIGHLIGHTS | Game 1
-Became the second opponent to have a perfect game against Salem since Virginia Wesleyan achieved the feat on February 24, 2018.
-The Knights had six sluggers with at least two hits, including Arianna Prymak (3-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and Chloe Nelson (3-3, 2 runs).
-Southern Virginia was responsible for three doubles, four triples and a home run, which came from Katie Claytor.
-Southern Virginia received a game-high four RBI from Claytor, who was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.
SALEM HIGHLIGHTS | Game 2
- Savanah Atkins, who cracked a two-run home run in the third inning, resulting in her team-best third home run of the season.
-Maleah Tate also had a two-hit performance, scoring two runs and accounting for one RBI in the game.
-The top four hitters—which consisted of Madeline Brown, Kat Price, Atkins and Shelby LaPoint—combined for five of Salem's seven hits in the game.
-Katie Gerhardt tossed the complete game for Salem, allowing 15 hits and 15 runs (10 earned), while fanning two Southern Virginia sluggers.
-The game two double marks the first extra-base hit in the career of Tate.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE SPIRITS
Salem makes a brief return to Blixt Field on Saturday, April 15th to host USA South Conference rival and intracity foe Greensboro at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Spirits played their last six games on the road, against Mary Baldwin, Pfeiffer and Southern Virginia. After hosting The Pride for the Strike Out Cancer Game on Saturday afternoon, Salem will make two trips to Raleigh, N.C., to face both Shaw (April 18) and William Peace (April 22) in succession.
STRIKEOUT CANCER GAME VERSUS PRIDE
The StrikeOut Cancer initiative is a program through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to help raise funds and awareness to fight cancer. The program leverages the personal experiences, community leadership, and professional excellence of fastpitch softball coaches nationwide to help increase cancer education and promote healthy living through awareness efforts and fundraising activities.
Since starting the StrikeOut Cancer initiative more than ten years ago, the NFCA has raised thousands of dollars to support the fight against cancer. These monetary donations allow cancer organizations to continue their efforts to prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering from the disease through research, education, advocacy, and service.
To make a donation to the StrikeOut Cancer Game click this link.
TOPPING THE CHARTS FOR THE SPIRITS
Salem heads into the weekend series with Greensboro led in batting average (.357) and overall hits (20) by junior Madeline Brown. In 56 at bats, Brown has delivered six doubles, 13 runs and four RBI for the Spirits, resulting in a .439 on-base percentage and .518 slugging percentage.
Carlee McWilliam is second on the team in batting average (.350), connecting on 14 hits, including four doubles, five RBI and five runs scored. Senior Savanah Atkins, who had a pair of hits in the last outing against Southern Virginia (April 11), is third in total hits (10) and leads the way in home runs with three. Atkins is also responsible for the most RBI (10), topping double-digit RBI for the second straight season.
Kat Price is tops among Salem pitchers with innings pitched (52.2) and lowest ERA (4.52) after surrendering 34 earned runs on the slate. Both Katie Gerhardt and Alli Stertzbach are tied with Price in wins (one). Stertzbach has fanned a team-high 23 K's, while Gerhardt has 12 K's in 35.2 innings in the circle.
ANALYZING THE PRIDE
Salem Head-to-Head vs. Greensboro: Salem owns a 9-5 edge in the all-time history with Greensboro, but The Pride have won three of the last five meetings since April 18, 2019, including a doubleheader sweep at Greensboro on April 2, 2022. Salem is 7-1 all-time at Blixt Field against Greensboro in a series dating back to March 25, 2015.
Greensboro, which has a collective .314 batting average, has six sluggers with at least a .305 batting average that have competed in 23 contests. Kelsey Craven leads all Pride hitters with a .468 batting average after connecting on 36 hits in 77 at bats. She has delivered nine doubles, one triple and one double, to come through with a .649 slugging percentage and 16 RBI.
Teammate Kassie Simmons is second in hits (30), along with team high's in 11 doubles, triples (two) and home runs (two). Simmons is one of two Pride hitters with at least 20 RBI, coming through with 27, while Alexis Sox is second on the unit with 24.
The Pride are lead in the circle by the combination of Lauren Engel (2.11 ERA) and Kassie Simmons (2.45). Engel is 13-2 after tossing 96 innings, fanning 43 opposing hitters, while Simmons leads the team in strikeouts (62) and is second in innings pitched (83).
