WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Visiting Guilford College used a seven-run sixth inning to rally past Salem College for a 12-9 softball victory Wednesday night. The Quakers' fifth-straight victory gave them a sweep of the nonleague doubleheader after Guilford took the opener, 10-5.

Guilford sophomore Casey Bunting collected two homers among five hits and 11 runs batted in over the two games. She has hit four home runs in the Quakers' (6-2) last five games.

Bunting's two-outs grand slam in the second inning keyed an eight-run outburst that opened an 8-0 cushion in the opener. The Spirits (0-2) answered in the third inning on a Brittany Morton three-run homer and made it an 8-5 contest in the fifth on RBI hits by Brianne Coleman and Breanna Herman. Bunting's two-out, two-run single in the sixth provided the game's final margin. Sydnee Hilliard replaced winning pitcher Katie McNeill in the sixth inning and retired the final six batters to seal the victory.

Bunting, Kayli Blankenship, and Kayla Leibman each had two hits for Guilford in the opener. Morton went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI for Salem.

Savanah Atkins hit a three-run homer in the third inning of game two, which helped the hosts to a 5-1 advantage. Starting pitcher Madison Thomas (0-1) took a 5-2 lead into the sixth inning before the Quakers mounted their comeback. A Natalie Conrad single plated Kylie Richardson, who led off the inning by reaching on an error. Sarah Aukamp followed with a one-out, two-run single that tied the score at 5-5 before Bunting cleared the bases with her team-leading fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot. Richardson came back up to single in the Quakers' final run of the frame, which opened a 9-6 margin.

Bunting drove home two more runs in Guilford's three-run seventh inning against reliever Miranda Barker. The runs proved necessary as Salem scored three times in the bottom of the seventh against McNeill (5-1), who replaced starter Abigayle Rowell in the fifth.

Bunting and Aukamp both had three hits to lead Guilford's season-high 16-hit effort. Conrad, Richardson, Jessie Beck, and Laura Thompson each had two hits. Bunting had five RBI in the nightcap, which gives her a team-best 22 through eight games. Aukamp plated three runs and Richardson had two RBI.

Herman had a club-high three hits for Salem. Morton and Barker had two hits apiece. The Spirits committed four errors in game two, which led to four unearned runs. Guilford made just one miscue over the two contests.

Coach Dennis Shores' Quakers visit Pfeiffer University Saturday (2/22) in a doubleheader rescheduled from February 12.