Scores:
Methodist 9, Salem 1 (5 innings)
Salem 5, Methodist 2

Records:
Salem (6-30, 3-15 USA South) / Methodist (19-19, 9-9 USA South)

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Salem softball team earned its fourth doubleheader split of the 2024 season in Fayetteville, N.C., on Saturday after posting a 5-2 win in the second game of the series with Methodist. The Monarchs earned the victory in game one of the series by a 9-1 margin.

The Spirits pounded out eight hits in the victory, after managing five in the first game of the series. Among those eight hits was a double from first-year Carmen Duffey, who ends the season with a team-best eight doubles. Meanwhile, classmate Cassandra Miller wrapped up the victory with two RBI, giving her 20 on the season.

Maleah Tate left her mark on the second game victory as well, closing with two hits, which ends her season at 39. Tate also swiped two bases in the three-run win for Salem, which moves her to 40 stolen bases in her career. Her first stolen base of the game, which came in the first inning, moved her past Jennifer Vitarelli for the all-time mark in program history.

Seniors Savanah Atkins, who finished 1-for-4 in her final game, Madeline Brown, Katie Gerhardt and Cree Bass all played in the contest.

On the mound, first-year Isabella Morales had a dominating performance for the Spirits with six K's over 5.1 innings. Morales scattered four hits and allowed just two runs and held the Monarchs without a walk. It is the fourth time for Morales that she has had at least five strikeouts in a game this season. The Salem first-year closed out the slate with a team-best 58 K's. Those 58 strikeouts are the 10th-most in a single-season in Salem history.

Griffin Pearce slammed the door on Methodist's chance of a come-from-behind victory, allowing just one hit over 1.2 innings, while earning her second save of the season. She ties Sydney Vaughn (2017) as the only pitcher in program history with two saves in a season.

GAME 1 | Methodist 9, Salem 1 (5 innings)
W: Alyssa Barwick (5-8) / L: Carmen Duffey (0-1)
Salem Leaders: Ashlyn Stokes (1-2, run, double), Cassandra Miller (1-2, RBI, double)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-First-year teammates Ashlyn Stokes and Cassandra Miller each deliver a double for the Spirits.
-The 5-9 hitters in the Salem lineup account for five of the seven hits as Salem receives one hit each from Savanah Atkins, Karma Morrison, Shelby LaPoint, Madeline Brown and Stokes.
-Carmen Duffey makes the first start of her collegiate career in the circle, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing 10 hits, seven earned runs and fanning two Monarch hitters along the way.
-Stokes led off the fifth with a double to left field, advancing to third on a single from Maleah Tate. Stokes scored two batters later on a double to centerfield by Miller, marking the only run of the game for the Spirits.

METHODIST HIGHLIGHTS
-Alexandra Edwards kick started the Monarchs' offense with a single to left and moved to second on a stolen base to start the game. Edwards scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Rivas, notching the first run of the game.
-Sydney Sizemore followed Rivas in the lineup, delivering a base hit of the middle to score Hannah Lovick, who reached base on a walk, making for a 2-0 lead.
-Methodist had a two-run bottom of the third, scoring one run on a Rachel Blanchard triple that scored Hannah Lovick in the process. Blanchard also scored on a throwing error.
-The Monarchs wrapped up the game in the home half of the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits and taking advantage of a Salem miscue.
-Sydney Sizemore was responsible for an RBI single in the fifth, scoring Blanchard. Teammate Grace Hobbs came through with two RBI with a single up the middle that plated both Sizemore and Rivas.
-McKenzie Lanphear had two RBI on a single to centerfield that brought home both Hobbs and Haley Downes.

GAME 2 | Salem 5, Methodist 2
W: Isabella Morales (4-10) / L: Sarah Haywood (0-1) / Sv.: Griffin Pearce (2)
Salem Leaders: Cassandra Miller (1-4, 2 RBI), Carmen Duffey (2-3, run, double), Maleah Tate (2-4, 2 runs, 2 SB)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-Sophomore Maleah Tate swiped two bases in the game against Methodist, moving her career total to 40. With her first steal of the day, Tate passed Jennifer Vitarelli for the program mark in stolen bases.
-Carmen Duffey and Tate each finished the game with two hits. Duffey finished the season with a team-best eight doubles.
-The Spirits opened the game with a bunt from Tate, who stole second to establish the career stolen base record. After moving to third on a passed ball, Tate scored the first run of the game on a grounder back to the pitcher by Cassandra Miller.
-The second run of the first crossed the plate when a Savanah Atkins single through the left side of the infield moved Duffey to third. Duffey scored on a fielder's choice by Karma Morrison.
-Spirits moved their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second after Miller reached on an error that brought home Alli Stertzbach, who was pinch running for Isabella Morales.
-Isabella Morales helped her cause in the third by reaching on a fielding error that scored Morrison for the 4-0 advantage.
-Miller continued her hot hitting for the Spirits with an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Tate from second in the seventh to give Salem an insurance run.
-Isabella Morales tossed 5.1 innings, scattering four hits and allowing just two runs, while striking out six Methodist sluggers.
-Morales has struck out at least five hitters on four occasions this season for the Spirits.
-First-year pitcher Griffin Pearce earned her second save of the season after holding the Monarchs to just one hit over 1.2 innings.
-Senior Savanah Atkins capped off her Salem career with a hit in her final collegiate game.

METHODIST HIGHLIGHTS
-Alyssa Rivas brought home the first Methodist run of the game in the fourth, bringing home Rachel Blanchard, who reached on a triple to open the frame, with a sacrifice fly.
-A single to first by Blanchard scored Hannah Lovick from second after she delivered a double to left centerfield in the sixth, trimming the Salem lead to 4-2.
-Emma Neeley pitched four innings of relief for the Monarchs, surrendering just two hits, one run and striking out five Spirits along the way.
-The lone hitter in the lineup with two hits in the second game was Rachel Blanchard, who was 2-of-3 with an RBI, run scored and a triple.
-Hannah Lovick closed the game with a double for the Monarchs.