GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s Anna Wolfe brought home the Quakers’ go-ahead runs in game one while Salem College’s Logan Bowling hit two home runs in game two as the Quakers and the Spirits split a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. Guilford claimed game one, 5-3, while Salem took the nightcap, 9-3.
The Spirits (1-1) claimed an early 1-0 lead through the first three innings of game one, but the Quakers limited the damage in the top of the third frame as Darby Kozan recovered after bouncing off the outfield fence on the hit to throw out Jennifer Vitarelli at home plate. Salem posted a two-run, two-out rally one inning later, but right after the second run came across home plate, the Quakers (3-1) executed a cut-off play to throw out Katie Bilbrey at third to end the inning.
The Quakers responded in the bottom-half of the inning when Caroline Barnette sparked a two-run rally with a single through the left side to put the Quakers on the board. An Erin Ogden fielder’s choice that recorded the second out of the inning advanced Barnette home on a throwing error after the unassisted put out. Wolfe tied the contest in the bottom of the fifth frame with a one-out single for her first hit of the game. She provided a clutch double one inning later with two outs on the board. Guilford followed a lead-off single with two consecutive outs in the frame, but Darby Kozan kept the inning alive with a single down the third-base side to put runners and first and second base. Wolfe’s double brought both runners home to claim the lead as Courtney Lackey rallied after giving up a lead-off single in the final half-inning to retire the Spirits in three consecutive at-bats.
Salem took an early 2-0 lead after one half-inning of game two, but Guilford responded with two-run rally off a Shelby Helms double with two-outs in the next half-inning. Salem mounted a four-run rally in the top of the third stanza off of Bowling’s first home run, coming with two outs in the inning.
After a Katy Holt solo home run to respond in the bottom of the third, Salem mounted another two-run rally in top of the fourth, all coming with two outs. Bowling added her second home run to lead off the top of the fifth inning as the Spirits put the contest out of reach.
Wolfe finished three-for-five with three RBI over the entire afternoon, finishing game one two-for-three. Makayla Carver also tallied three hits over the doubleheader while Holt was one of two Quakers in game two with multi-hits, finishing two-for-three.
Jennifer Vitarelli led the Spirits with a six-for-nine effort, including a four-hit game two, while adding one RBI. Brianna Crumley finished four-for-seven with two RBI, all coming in game two.
Lackey (2-0) claimed the game one win, striking out three and walking two. She gave up one earned run on eight hits in the complete-game win. Carver (0-1) took the game two loss in a two and two-third innings effort where gave up four earned runs on six hits while striking out two.
Lauryn Smith (0-1) took the game one complete-game loss for Salem, striking out two and walking one. Brianna Morris (1-0) took the complete-game win in game two.
The Quakers take to the road Wednesday, traveling to Methodist University for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.