Columbus, Ga. - Hendrix defeated Sewanee 3-0 in the opening game of the 2025 Southern Athletic Association Softball Championship behind a complete-game shutout from Emma Salis.

Salis was brilliant in just her second-ever postseason start, spinning 7.0 scoreless innings of four-hit ball with a career-high seven strikeouts to completely shut down the Tigers. The junior right-handed pitcher only surrendered four base runners and did not issue any free passes over her outing.

Hendrix only manufactured a couple base runners in the first three innings on a Betty Wolfe walk to lead off the game before Tori Veith wore a pitch in the bottom of the second inning. The gates opened in the fourth though on a bases-loaded RBI from Peyton Frady to score Kendyl Patton for the game's opening run.

The Warriors left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth after Frady's RBI, but they were able to cement their lead by tacking on two more in the next inning. Wolfe led off the fifth with an infield single and was eventually able to land in scoring position for Tori Maldonado, who smoked an RBI double out to center field to double the lead. Patton then stepped into the box and singled in Maldonado to make it 3-0.

Hendrix loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but left all three runners stranded to end the inning. Salis clinched the Game 1 victory by working around a one-out single in the top of the seventh to retire the side and secure her first postseason complete-game shutout.

Maldonado and Wolfe led the Warriors with 2-for-3 days at the plate. Hendrix outhit the Tigers 8-4 over the seven innings and committed just one fielding error.

The Warriors advance to the winner's bracket and will take on the top-seeded Berry Vikings this evening at 4:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM ET.