College Softball Finals: Guilford 6 – 3, Salem 5 – 6

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Rachel Howard and Marty Wilcox each boasted a perfect game one at the plate as Guilford College split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Salem College. The Quakers took game one, 6-5, while the Spirits took game two, 6-3.

Guilford (5-5) jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first two innings of game one, but Salem (1-3-2) countered in the top of the fourth inning to erase the deficit with a four-run rally. The Quakers unanswered with one run one-half inning later before both teams traded one run a piece in the sixth inning. The Quakers retired the Sprits’ order in the top of the seventh frame to preserve the win.

The Quakers held a 1-0 lead through two innings of game two, but Salem posted a six-run rally in the third inning with all runs coming with one out. Guilford chipped away at the deficit with one run in the fourth and fifth innings, but Salem forced 11 Quaker runners to remain on base during game two as the Spirits claimed the win.

Howard finished the afternoon 4-for-7, including 3-for-3 in game one, with a game one double and three total RBI over both contests. Both of the senior’s game one RBI came with two outs. Wilcox finished 5-for-8 over the doubleheader, falling a home run short of hitting for the cycle in game one as she hit 4-for-4 in the first contest. Wilcox added two RBI over the doubleheader and two stolen bases. Taylor Boyd finished 3-for-8, hitting 3-for-4 in game two with two doubles.

Salem’s Maggie Fritts hit a double and triple over the afternoon, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBI. Amber Bass also drove in three runs throughout the afternoon, leading Salem with two RBI in game one.

Tyler Miles (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance) (3-1) collected the game one complete-game victory for the Quakers. The freshman surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits while fanning four and walking one. Casey Snead (1-1) took the game two loss, throwing two and one-third innings and giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking one. Courtney Lackey relieved Snead in the third to throw the final four and two-thirds innings, surrendering one run on four hits and fanning three.

Lauryn Smith (0-2) took Salem’s game one loss, throwing a complete-game six innings and giving up six runs on 10 hits and walking five. Breanna Morris (1-1) claimed the game two win with a complete-game, giving up three runs on 11 hits, fanning two, and walking four.

The Quakers travel to Mary Baldwin College Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.