Site: Raleigh, N.C. | Walnut Creek Athletic Complex | Grand Slam Triangle Classic

Scores:
LaGrange 11, Salem 0 (5 innings)
Eastern Mennonite 10, Salem 3

Records: LaGrange (6-10) / Eastern Mennonite (4-2) / Salem (0-4)

Next Games:
Guilford at Salem (DH) | Blixt Field | March 11 | 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Salem sluggers Savanah Atkins and Madeline Brown connected on a pair of home runs in the clash with Eastern Mennonite, marking the first long ball of the season for each, but it was three multi-run innings by the Royals that resulted in a 10-3 victory over the Spirits at the Grand Slam Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C. on Sunday afternoon.

Salem also suffered an 11-0 setback to LaGrange, which came in the first game of the day at the Walnut Creek Athletic Complex.

Atkins drove the first home run of the Salem season over the left field wall in the second inning against Eastern Mennonite, plating teammate Shelby LaPoint at first in the process. The home run marks Atkins return to the diamond, after missing the first two games of the season while completing the 2022-23 Salem basketball season. The following inning, Brown stretched the Salem lead to 3-1 with a solo dinger to lead off the frame, marking her first collegiate home run.

While the Salem pitching staff surrendered 21 runs on the afternoon, there were a number of bright spots to build on. Against LaGrange, first year hurler Alli Stertzbach finished off the game with four strikeouts. The second game had both Kat Price and Katie Gerhardt enter the circle. Price tossed 3.1 innings, scattered eight hits and allowed six runs (five earned) before giving way to Katie Gerhardt, who tossed 2.2 innings, and allowed four runs on three hits.

The first game of the day was highlighted by the LaGrange offense, which scored four runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings. Individually, Kelsea Moody (3-4, 4 RBI, run) and Isabelle Herren (2-4, 4 RBI) came through with solid outings for the Panthers.

GAME 1: LaGrange 11, Salem 0 (5 innings)
W: Chamberlain (4-4) / L: Stertzbach (0-2)
Salem Leaders: Madeline Brown (1-2), Alli Stertzbach (5 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 4 K's)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-Madeline Brown collected the lone hit for the Spirits, finishing 1-for-2 at the plate.
-Kat Price accounted for a sacrifice for the Spirits.
-Alli Stertzbach finished off the game with four strikeouts.
-It marks the first game in Stertzbach's collegiate career with multiple strikeouts.

LaGRANGE HIGHLIGHTS
-The Panthers finished with nine hits and their most runs in a single-game this season.
-The Top-5 hitters in the LaGrange lineup accounted for six hits and four RBI.
-Kelsea Moody (3-4, 4 RBI, run) and Isabelle Herren (2-4, 4 RBI) were the only two hitters in the Panther lineup with multi-hit games.
-Moody finished her day with a double, while Herren capped off the contest with two doubles.

GAME 2:
W: Fletcher (2-1) / L: Price (0-2)
Salem Leaders: Savanah Atkins (2-3, 2 RBI, HR, run), Madeline Brown (1-3, RBI, HR), Kat Price (1-2)

SALEM HIGHLIGHTS
-Savanah Atkins becomes the first Salem player to hit a home run in 2023, connecting on a two-run home run, which plated Shelby LaPoint from first, in the top of the second inning.
-Atkins has now recorded seven multi-hit games in her career, the first multi-hit game of the 2023 campaign.
-Atkins' home run is the sixth of her career.
-Madeline Brown smashed the first home run of her collegiate career, second of the season for Salem in the top of the third, moving the Salem lead to 3-1.
-Brown's home run is the sixth extra-base hit of her Salem career.
-Kat Price connects on the first hit of the season.
-Salem finishes the game with four hits, three RBI and three runs scored
-Price tossed 3.1 innings, scattered eight hits, allowed six runs (five earned).
-Katie Gerhardt tossed 2.2 innings, allowed four runs on three hits.

EASTERN MENNONITE HIGHLIGHTS
-The Royals finish with 11 hits and nine RBI in the contest.
-The top hitters in the EMU lineup were Becca Boone (4-4, 4 RBI, run) and Taylor Umberger (2-3, 3 RBI, HR, double, run).
-Both Grace Fravel and Natalye Graham finished with doubles for Eastern Mennonite. The Royals has four extra-base hits in the game.
-Kaitlyn Fletcher tossed a complete game four-hitter for her second win of the season. Fletcher finished the game by allowing three runs, two walks and striking out two Salem hitters.