Vikings Face Setback in Midweek Matchup

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass.- This evening, Salem State softball welcomed the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) to Alumni Field for their 'Mental Health Matters' game. The Blue Jays left with two wins when a nine-inning battle in game one ended in their favor,11-10, before holding off the Vikings in the second game, 7-6.  The Blue Jays are now 9-13 on the season while the Vikings sink to 8-12.  

Game 1 

• In the opening inning, Dawn Eisnor (Medford, Mass.) drove home the first run of the game when an opposite field base hit would bring a runner around. A batter later the Vikings were able to add two more runs when they capitalized on a Blue Jay error, giving them the 3-0 tilt.   
• The Blue Jays responded with four hits an inning later to bring around seven runs and take the 7-3 advantage.   
• In the home half of the third frame the Vikings' discipline at the plate brought them back in striking distance after five batters in a row walked, forcing three Vikings to cross the plate, to make it a one-run game (7-6).
• Two innings later the Vikings were able to regain the lead after three hits accounted for just as many runs to make it a 9-7 game.
• The Blue Jays were able to add two more tallies in the seventh to send the game into extra innings where a ninth inning battle would end in the Blue Jays favor, 11-10.

Game Two 

• The Blue Jays were able to grab an early two run lead before Eisnor cut their advantage in half after her single to left field made it a 2-1 game after one.
• The Vikings erased a three-run deficit in the bottom of the third when Madison Donovan brought around the tying run in the Vikings' three-run frame.
• Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) recorded her third RBI of the game in the fourth inning, spearheading her team to the 6-4 tilt, before Eisnor once again answered for the Vikings with a shot to right field that would bring a runner around, making it a one-run game (6-5).
• Both teams would cross the plate one time in the final three innings to solidify the Blue Jays 7-6 victoryin game two.

Noteworthy  

• Makenzie DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) had a team-high four RBIs on the evening, while Eisnor went 4 for 6 from the plate with three RBIs.
• Isabella Perrotti (Winthrop, Mass.), Samantha Gaona (Billerica, Mass.), and Paige Souza (New Bedford, Mass.) each recorded two hits apiece in the second game. 
• For the Blue Jays, Alyssa Roberts (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Jenna Zup (Berlin, Conn.) recorded four RBIs on the evening.
• Tonight, Salem State softball hosted its 'Mental Health Matters' game as part of Salem State Athletics' Sam Cioffi Student Athlete Wellness Programming. Salem State athletics honored the assistance and support of the Counseling and Health Services Office prior to the game before former two-sport student-athlete and current faculty member/ sport psychologist, Lauren DiCredico, threw out the first pitch.

Salem State is back in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play when they travel to Westfield State University for a doubleheader against the Owls on Saturday, April 13. Game one is expected to start at noon.