Ray gets 100th Career Hit as Greensboro scores 15 runs in the sweep over Salem
Winston-Salem, NC – The regular season is in the final stretch, but on Saturday afternoon the Greensboro College Softball team was still focused with a “game-by-game” philosophy and that continued with a doubleheader at Salem College. That philosophy helped the Pride earn a sweep (4-1 and 11-2), while also seeing some history made as Junior Ivy Ray picked up her 100th hit of her career.
Game One
After two scoreless innings, the Greensboro offense began to come alive, which set up three runs on three RBI walks from Junior Alexis Sox (Burlington, NC), Junior Ivy Ray (Thomasville, NC) and Senior Brooke Kinley (Lexington, NC). In the top of the fifth inning, Sox came to the plate and drove a pitch over left center field, to increase the Pride lead to 4-0. Junior Lauren Engel (Huntersville, NC) continued to shut down the Spirits, for the complete game, and Greensboro would take the first game by a score of 4-1.
The Pride were led by Sophomore Madison Dillner (Leicester, NC) who finished 3-4 with a run and a double, while Sox went 2-3 with two runs, two RBI’s and a homerun. On the mound, Engel had eight strikeouts, in addition to only giving up four hits.
Game Two
Greensboro picked up where they left off as their offense continued to dominate the day, especially this game’s top of the first inning, as they would score six straight runs to start the game. Junior Oliva Hudson (Sanford, NC) got things started when she hit a two RBI single to left field and that was followed by an RBI double by Senior Kassie Simmons (Gibsonville, NC, making the score 4-0. A sacrifice fly from Sophomore Brooklyn Rush (Asheboro, NC) and a Sophomore M’Kenzie Davis (Greensboro, NC) RBI single finished the first inning scoring at 6-0. While Salem would answer with two runs of their own, they could not stop the scoring as Senior Kailey Walker (Eden, NC), Dillner, Freshman Oliva Hyatt (Laurinburg, NC), Davis and Walker each drove in runs, while Simmons controlled the mound to give the Pride the win, 11-2.
Ray finished the game 2-3, crossing the plate twice and Walker went 2-3 with two runs and two RBI’s. Simmons picked up the win on the mound, pitching four innings, while striking out four and only giving up three hits.
Greensboro will return to action on Wednesday, April 19th as they host Meredith College. Prior to the game a special ceremony will take place to honor community leaders and the Pride Athletic Department in their collaboration in bringing back Barber Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm.