RALEIGH, NC -- D'Amani Gadson fired a two-hitter to lead Shaw over Salem (NC) 7-1 in the second game of a non-conference softball doubleheader at Worthdale Park on Tuesday. The Lady Bears lost the first game 13-6.
Gadson paced Shaw offensively in the doubleheader.
GAME 2 | Shaw 7, Salem (NC) 1
The Shaw Lady Bears took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 7-1 win against the Salem (NC) Spirits.
Sophomore D'Amani Gadson (3-8) started in the circle and picked up the win for Shaw (6-17 overall). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing two walks and striking out seven.
At the plate, the Lady Bears were paced by Gadson, who went 2-for-2 on the day with a double, a walk and three RBIs. Sophomore Nataya Truitt put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Sas'Kia Stephens also contributed for Shaw, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bears got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Shaw scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Gadson.
The Lady Bears then held the Spirits scoreless before expanding their lead in the third inning. Truitt came across to score the lone run of the inning for Shaw, which brought the Lady Bears' lead to 4-0.
Shaw kept Salem (NC) scoreless before building its lead to 5-0 in the the fourth inning.
Shaw kept the Spirits scoreless before its offense got in gear in the fifth inning. Gadson crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Lady Bears, bringing the Shaw advantage to 6-0.
The Lady Bears held Salem (NC) scoreless before expanding their lead to 7-0 in the sixth inning. Truitt came across to score the lone run of the inning for Shaw. Salem (NC) put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Lady Bears still coasted to the 7-1 win.
GAME NOTES
» Gadson struck out seven Spirits hitters.
» Shaw's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed three runs across.
» Shaw took a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Lady Bears out-hit the Spirits 9-2.
» Gadson limited Salem (NC) to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
» Gadson faced 27 Salem (NC) hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out seven.
» Gadson led the Lady Bears at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI.
GAME 1 | Salem (NC) 13, Shaw 6
Sophomore D'Amani Gadson racked up three extra base hits, but the Shaw Lady Bears fell to the Salem (NC) Spirits 13-6.
Freshman Syhia Marks (2-9) started and took the loss in the circle for Shaw.
Gadson's three extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-3 day, which included two doubles, a triple, a walk and two RBIs. Senior Regina DeDecker furnished a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4. Freshman Ayania Williams also helped out the Lady Bears, putting together two hits in four trips at the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lady Bears were trailing 3-0 in the first inning when they first put a run on the board. DeDecker came across to score the lone run of the inning for Shaw.
The Lady Bears' deficit grew to 4-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the third inning. DeDecker came across to score the lone run of the inning for Shaw, which tightened the Spirits lead to 4-2.
Salem (NC) expanded its lead to 9-2 before the Shaw offense got back in action, reducing that lead to 9-3 in the sixth. The Lady Bears added a run on Gadson's RBI double.
The Spirits expanded their lead to 13-3 before the Shaw offense got back in action, cutting into that lead in the seventh. The Lady Bears got a run-scoring double off the bat of Gadson as part of a three-run frame, bringing the score to 13-6 in favor of Salem (NC). The Lady Bears were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» The Lady Bears got three-hit games from both Gadson and DeDecker.
» The Lady Bears got a power surge from Gadson, who contributed three extra base knocks.
» Shaw's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Lady Bears out-hit the Spirits 10-9.
» DeDecker stole two bases.
» Shaw pitchers faced 39 Salem (NC) hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and five fly balls while striking out four.
» Gadson led the Lady Bears at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and two RBI.
