Even in defeat, the Salem softball team found reason to celebrate on Friday.
Host Woodstown, which would go on to win the Tri-County Conference interdivision game, 3-0, had loaded the bases with none out in the first inning when Wolverines catcher Megan McCurdy ripped a line drive down the third-base line.
Salem third baseman Danielle Merritt snared McCurdy's smash, stepped on the bag and threw across the diamond to first baseman Caitlyn Hudock to complete the triple play.
The Rams were less effective in the batter's box, managing just five singles and a walk while striking out 13 times against winning pitcher Haley Broomell.
In other Tri-County action:
Four days after pitching her first perfect game, Kingsway ace Kelsey Dominik lost her no-hit bid on a lead-off single in the seventh inning but recovered to shut out visiting Clearview, 5-0.
Freshman rightfielder Isabella Bradian batted 3 for 3 and scored twice for the Dragons.
Annie Murphy and winning pitcher Breanna Worrell combined for six hits, three RBIs and two runs as host Deptford rallied past Clayton, 4-3.
Trista Mokienko and winning pitcher Julia Voluntad teamed up to produce five hits, three RBIs and five runs scored as host Delsea dumped Wildwood, 14-4.
Burlington County. Andi Veneziale slapped a two-run single in the eighth inning to enable host Northern Burlington to outlast Moorestown, 5-3.
Samantha Beckett (2 for 3, 1 RBI) and Jenna Rodriguez (1 for 2, 1 run) accounted for all of New Egypt's hits in a 4-1 win over visiting Holy Cross.
Kayla Rafferty had a double and three RBIs for host Cinnaminson, which used a six-run first inning to hold off Willingboro, 8-5.
Olympic. Sophomore shortstop Sierra Machinski picked up six RBIs on a single and a double, and Alyssa Sims went 4 for 4, knocked in two runs and scored three times to lead host Cherry Hill West over Seneca, 9-4.
Susan Wysocki fanned 13 batters while limiting Timber Creek to three hits and a walk, and Karley Kercherski went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and one run in Camden Catholic's 7-0 road win.
Cape-Atlantic. Selena Santiago singled, tripled, scored one run and drove in one to key Egg Harbor Township's 6-1 win at Bridgeton.
Wildwood Catholic pushed across three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to finish off host Ocean City, 9-2. Winning pitcher Jackie DeLong struck out nine while yielding just three hits.
Nonleague. Jessica Harrell tripled three times in going 3 for 3 with three runs and five RBIs, highlighting Schalick's 15-0 home romp over Camden Academy Charter.
In a battle for first place in the Cape-Atlantic League, host Ocean City supplanted Millville atop the standings with a 13-8 win.
Casey Hanna and Tess Solazzo had four goals apiece, and Megan Devlin contributed two goals and two assists for the Red Raiders (11-3 overall, 11-1 league).
Corrine Etter and Macki Groves each scored twice for the Thunderbolts (12-3, 11-2).
Olympic. Rachel Krott (4 goals) and Paige Paratore (3 goals) sparked a fast start that sent host West Deptford to a 14-6 rout of Gloucester Catholic.
Nonleague. Alli Hawco and Ellie O'Neill each scored five times, and goalie Shauna Lamaina stopped seven shots to help Collingswood nip host Delran, 10-8.
