GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Guilford College softball team (10-9-1, 0-2 ODAC) got back on track in their opening pair four straight home doubleheaders, taking care of buisness against Salem College (5-15, 0-0 USA South) after coming back from a four-run deficit in the fifth,
Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) sent a walkoff RBI-single for an 8-7 Quakers victory in game one, with momentum shifting in Guilford's favor in the rubber match, Goyings would put things on ice against the Spirits for an 8-0 run-rule decision in favor of Guilford through five innings on Sunday afternoon at Haworth Field.
Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.) received the start in the circle for the opening clash, pitching a mediocre outing, throwing 4.2 innings, dropping seven runs, three earned off nine hits and two walks.
Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) entered in relief for the Quakers to close things out throughout a dominant 2.1 innings of work, whiffing four batters for the victory to advance to 3-3 overall.
Madison Talley got the nod for the Spirts, unable to find her footing tossing 5.1 innings surrendering seven earned runs off ten hits and two walks. In the back-and-forth affair, NaVaeha George would come in relief for Salem, giving up the game-losing run for Salem in 1.0 innings, dropping one earned run off three hits and two walks for the loss, falling to 0-1 on the year.
Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) led the charge offensively for the Quakers, slashing 3-for-3 with two runs, one run batted in, and one walk.
Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) contributed to the comeback win for Guilford in her 2-for-3 showing, with three RBIs.
Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) smashed a long home-run into left in the bottom of the fifth hitting 1-for-4 with one run and two RBIs.
Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) commanded at the dish for Guilford, closing out the Quaker victory with her 2-for-3 stat line, with two runs and one RBI.
Maleah Tate ranked a top of Salem's performers at the plate batting 2-for-4 with two runs, one RBI, and one stolen base. Emma Greeson and Madison Talley would match that display, each bashing 2-for-4 in the early afternoon battle.
Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) had total control coming into the closing matchup, pushing strong momentum from game one into her start in the circle. Whelan pitched a 5.0-inning complete-game shutout against Salem, only surrendering two hits while striking out seven batters in the process for the victory, advancing to 4-3 overall.
Chloe Bailey-Bonomo drew the start in game two for Salem, faltering out of the gate while pitching 2.2 innings, giving up five runs off nine hits for the loss, falling to 2-5 on the year. NaVaeha George entered in relief once more for the Spirits, not faring much better 1.2 innings of work, dropping three runs, one earned, off three hits, one walk, and striking out one batter.
Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) continued her extended her hitting streak from her 1-for-2 slash line, launching a solo-homerun into center to earn one RBI and run to her name.
Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) was perfect in her 3-for-3 showing driving in one while scoring two runs in the process.
Janey Galek (Charlotte, N.C.) and
Kaylee Harris (Mooresville, N.C.) eached bashed 2-for-3 with Galek scoring once in Guilford's run-rule victory.
Morgan Lawson and Camryn Clarke each logged a 1-for-2 day, unable to propel any runs for Salem in the closing clash.
GAME 1
In a high-scoring battle, Morgan Lawson would kick things off for Salem, driving in two with her double into center to get the Spirits on the board.
Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) cashed-in a Quaker run of her own off defensive miscues by Salem from fielding errors, while
Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) would follow-suit, driving in one on her RBI-triple.
With Guilford down by two, Reese Upton would extend Salem's lead off a sac-fly in the fourth and an RBI single in the fifth. Guilford was able to escape out of the bases-loaded jam with
Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) striking out one in the fifth. The Quaker's bats would become on fire as
Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) launched a long home run into left field in the fifth along with multiple hits by Stoner and Gray to tie things up heading into the seventh.
Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) would put things on ice with the bases loaded, sending a walkoff RBI-single into center, for an 8-7 decision in favor of Guilford.
GAME 2
The momentum would continue in the favor of the Quakers in the rubber match off a
Kaylyn Little (Locust, N.C.) solo-home run into center, putting Guilford on the board 1-0 early.
Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) extended the Quakers lead in the third from her 2-RBI single into center.
Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) launched two more knocks to score two Quaker-batters, continuing her commanding-performances at the plate in scoring opportunities for Guilford.
Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) shut down Salem's bats all together, striking out five of her last six batters in the final moments of her shutout victory against the Spirits.
Brooke Goyings (Lake Villa, Ill.) came through when Guilford needed it most, driving in one off a fielding error by Salem, wrapping-up a run-rule victory for the Quakers, 8-0 in five innings.
Guilford continues their home campaign with a pair against the Falcons of Pfeiffer University on Tuesday, March 24th, with the first pitch of game one at 2:00 PM, while game two is set for 4:00 PM.
#GoQuakes
