WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem College Softball Team (16-10) earned a pair of victories on Thursday evening over visiting Emory & Henry College (7-13) at Blixt Field. The Spirits won game one by a 5-4 score and topped the Wasps in the nightcap, 10-2, in five innings.
Game One – Salem 5, Emory & Henry 4
Emory & Henry got out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when sophomore designated player Caley Hodge (Elizabethton, Tenn.) tagged a two-out home run.
The Spirits got one run back in the second on a single by Britani Peterson. Salem would go on to load the bases but the E&H defense held to keep the score 2-1.
In the third, the Wasps plated another pair of runs highlighted by a base hit by sophomore second baseman Danielle Loving (Elizabethton, Tenn.) to go up 4-1.
Salem answered in the bottom of the third, taking the lead with four runs on five hits and two walks. Peterson, Jennifer Vitearelli and Hannah Ogle each had RBI base hits in the frame.
The last four innings of the game went scoreless as the final margin remained 5-4. Hannah Nolan earned the win in relief, pitching four scoreless, no-hit innings. Peterson had two hits, two RBI and a run while Vitarelli and Maggie Fritts added a pair of base knocks each.
Hodge paced the E&H offense with her two-run homer and two runs scored while Loving added a RBI single and freshman centerfielder Erin Anderson (Aylett, Va.) had a hit of her own. Junior Riley Pudney (Beech Mountain, N.C.) allowed four earned runs on seven hits and three walks in 2.2 innings pitched.
Game Two – Salem 10, Emory & Henry 2 (five innings)
Salem started off with a run in the first and took control in the second, scoring six runs to go up 7-0. Montana Lineberger highlighted the second with a two-run double while Fritts also drove in a run with a double of her own. The Spirits added three runs in the third for a 10-0 advantage.
Down to their final three outs before the Eight-Run Advantage Rule was to take effect, Emory & Henry needed to score three or more runs in the top of the fifth. Junior Alison Hughs (Woodlawn, Tenn.) got a pinch-hit RBI single and the Wasps scored another run when junior Holly Eckard (Ringgold, Va.) stole home. E&H was unable to get another run across and the game ended with a 10-2 score.
Lineberger went two-for-two with a run and three RBI while Fritts had two hits, driving in two. Vitarelli scored three times from her leadoff position with a hit and two walks, adding a RBI.
Lauryn Smith earned the win for Salem, pitching four innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits. Senior left-hander Kaitlyn Pruitt (Abingdon, Va.) took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits with two walks.
Emory & Henry will have a quick turnaround before its next games as it will begin ODAC play on Friday, hosting Randolph College at 1:00 p.m.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston, E&H '15