Skip To Main Content

Kenyon College Athletics

6
Winner Kenyon KENYON
3
Salem SALEM
Winner
Kenyon KENYON
6
Final
3
Salem SALEM
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Kenyon KENYON 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 6 10 0
Salem SALEM 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 7 4

W: Hamm, Kylie (1-0) L: R. Dennis (0-1)

19
Winner Kenyon KENYON
8
Salem SALEM
Winner
Kenyon KENYON
19
Final
8
Salem SALEM
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Kenyon KENYON 1 1 6 6 5 19 20 0
Salem SALEM 1 1 3 3 0 8 8 0

W: Messinger, Jillian (1-0) L: R. Dennis (0-1)

Keala Montgomery
Graham Stokes

Game Recap: Softball |

Bats come up big in sweep of Salem

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- After opening the 2026 season last weekend with a pair of losses at Centre College, the Kenyon College softball team turned things around Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from the host Salem College Spirits. The Owls rallied for a 6-3 game-one win and then rode that momentum into a 19-8 run-rule, five-inning game-two win.

Kenyon's combined output of 25 runs was generated from 32 hits, including four home runs and six other extra-base hits. The Owls also drew a dozen walks and stole three bases.

In game one, Salem took advantage of a shaky start from Kenyon pitcher Kylie Hamm. The Spirits used a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a single to score the game's first run in the bottom of the first. Another single, later in the inning, gave Salem a 2-0 lead.

After that, Hamm settled in. Over the last six innings of game one, she put her team in position to rally by holding Salem to just one more run and one more hit the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Salem pitching staff held the Kenyon bats silent until the sixth inning.

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the sixth, the Owls erupted for five runs. Back-to-back home runs from Lily Colvin and Kinsey White got things started. Colvin ripped a two-run shot to center field, and then White laced her homer to center, as well.

The inning continued when Madison Buckwalter got on base via an error and Leah Schlissberg followed with a double. Up next, Maeve McLaughlin drilled a single to the right side, scoring both Kenyon runners and giving the Owls a 5-3 advantage.

For good measure, White doubled in the top of the seventh to put Kenyon on the path to its sixth run. Becca Boue pinch ran for White and Buckwalter brought her home with another double, sealing the Owls' first win of the season.

In game two, the Owls and Spirits traded runs in both the first and second innings. When the top of the third rolled around, McLaughlin and Emma Cashell both singled and both scored on a double hit by Brooke Avila, who gave the Owls a 4-2 advantage. Kenyon bats did not stop there. White, Buckwalter, Keala Montgomery, and Schlissberg put together consecutive RBI hits, pushing the Kenyon lead to 8-2.

Salem scored three times in the bottom of the third, but Kenyon came right back with another six-run inning. Leah Kuban started off the fourth inning with a solo shot, which was backed up by RBI hits from Montgomery and Peyton Green. Salem committed a couple errors in the frame, allowing Kenyon to move ahead 14-4.

Again, Salem got to Kenyon starter Jillian Messinger for three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. And, again, Kenyon answered with a huge inning, scoring five more times in the top of the fifth. Kuban highlighted that outburst with a three-run homer.

Messinger picked up the pitching win in game two and Hamm got the win in game one,

At the plate, Montgomery was a combined 5-for-9 with three runs and four RBI. McLaughlin was 4-for-7 with two runs and four RBI, Colvin also had four hits and scored three times, while Kuban's two dingers resulted in two runs and four RBI.

The Owls (2-2) will get right back to business tomorrow with a doubleheader at Guilford College. The first game gets underway at noon.
 
Print Friendly Version

Related Headlines