Salem, MA --- Salem State split a conference double header with Worcester State this afternoon at Alumni Field.
Salem State dropped the first game of the afternoon 6-0, but responded and took the second game 5-2. The Lady Vikings are now 17-7 on the season while they stand at 3-1 in the MASCAC Conference. The Lancers are 7-11 and are 2-2 in the MASCAC.
In the first game of the afternoon Worcester State was led by a strong pitching performance from junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) to win 6-0.
The Lancers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Senior Erica Cordio (Leominster, MA) led off the game with a single and would come around to score on a passed ball. The other hit in the inning came from senior Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA) who singled to drive in the second run of the inning.
The Lancers would add to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) would lead off the inning with a bunt single. Cordio would follow up with a single and score on a passed ball freshman Kaitlyn Storro would hit an RBI single and Everson would hit a sacrifice fly to score Storro for a 5-0 Lancer lead.
The Lady Vikings threatened in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Jeanette Doucette (Andover, MA) pinch hit and senior Michelle Grifoni (Peabody, MA) led off the inning with back to back singles. Jenn Toussaint (Reading, MA) would reach on a walk, her third of the game, to load the bases with no outs. Everson would get out of the inning unscathed as the Lady Vikings could not bring in any runs.
Game two of the afternoon went to the Lady Vikings behind solid defense and timely hitting.
They were led by senior catcher Gabbie Vitale (Danvers, MA) who went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, Junior Alyssa Bryan (Stoneham) who went 2-for-2 with an RBI, sophomore auren DiCredico (Tewksbury, MA) who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Toussaint was 1-2 with two RBIs.
Howe hit a single into play to score the first run of the game in the top of the third inning. The Lancers had the bases loaded for the second inning in a row they however could only score one run as sophomore Kelly Winter (Attleboro, MA) would draw a walk to force in the second Lancer run of the inning to take a 2-0 lead after two and a half innings.
Salem would get one run back in the bottom of the third inning DiCredico led off the inning with a single. Grifoni would drive in the run on a triple, but was thrown out at home trying for the extra base.
Vitale led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single. It was the freshman Toussaint who would bring the Lady Vikings back to life with a two run homerun to straight away centerfield and give Salem their first lead of the day at 3-2.
Vitale kept the fifth inning alive as she hit a two out double. Bryan would bring her home on an RBI single to give the Vikings a 4-2 lead. Salem would add one more insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Michelle Flower (Reading, MA) singled to drive in DiCredico.
Despite losing the contest, the Lancers out-hit their hosts, 13-10. Storro, Lamoreaux, Howe, Everson and senior Jaime Jacobs (Franklin, MA) all ended the nightcap with two hits apiece while Everson and Jacobs both had a two-bagger each.
Both teams will return to action on Tuesday as they take on their respective crosstown rivals at 3 PM. The Blue and Gold travel to WPI while Salem State takes a trip up 128 to play Endicott in a key North Shore Cup match-up.
Major Portions Of Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information