SALISBURY, N.C. - Livingstone softball kicked off the home portion of its 2024 season Monday afternoon, playing host to Salem College for a pair of contests. The team had a chance to show the home crowd its new look, as this year's roster features 15 total student-athletes, including seven freshmen. 
 

Game 1
Freshman Natayah Abdul-Hakim and senior J'Lynn Wilson found themselves on base early to start the bottom of the fourth. After a quick out, sophomore Khala Porter lined a single up the middle to bring both runs home and get the Blue Bears on the board. Sneaky baserunning by Porter helped her score after the ensuing batter struck out to cut the deficit to 4-3. 

Livingstone were unable to score for the remainder of the game, ultimately falling 9-3 to Salem.

Junior Sinai Cisneros had an efficient game, going 2 for 3, while Wilson and Porter also managed hits for the Blue Bears.

Game 2

The Blue Bears were determined to end the day with at least one win, and came out firing in the second game of the doubleheader. Porter began the bottom of the second inning with a single, and once again relied on smart baserunning to help her cross the plate one inning later. 

After four consecutive singles loaded the bases (with an out in between), Wilson came up to bat. A well-hit fly ball to deep center field forced an error by the center fielder and brought home all three runners on base. After some poor throws by Salem, Wilson decided to be sneaky herself and dashed across the plate for an inside-the-park grand slam to balloon Livingstone's lead to 6-0.

One inning later, starting pitcher Symone Abraham knocked a single that brought home Sinai Cisneros. That lead would later increase to 9-1 an inning later.

On the mound, Abraham made her second start of the season and did not disappoint. In five innings of work, she gave up just four hits while earning three strikeouts. She managed to hold them to just one run total for the game, with Livingstone earning a victory via the run rule, 9-1. 

NEXT UP
After a busy opening few days, the Blue Bears will enjoy two weeks off before taking the field for a home doubleheader against Allen (S.C) on Tuesday, March 5. 

Social Media
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