Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Salem, MA – The Salem State University Vikings hosted North Shore foe Gordon College Fighting Scots in a non-conference double header. The Vikings  won both games this afternoon, to improve their record to 12-8.  The Fighting Scots now stand at 7-16. 

In the first game Salem jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Senior captain Lauren Garchinsky (Saugus, MA) scored on a passed ball after reaching on a single.  The Vikings built their lead to 3-0 on heads up base running by senior pitcher Alyssa Bryan ( Stoneham, MA)  who scored on a single from Sarra Bergeron (Methuen, MA).   Bergeron scored on a sacrifice fly by Garchinsky. 

Garchinsky again notched an RBI in the 5^th inning on a sacrifice fly to center that scored Bryan who reached on a single and stole third base.  The run gave the Vikings a 4-0 lead.

Gordon scored one run in the top of the sixth. Kara Pepper (So./Wyckoff, NJ) ripped a triple to center field and would score on a sacrifice hit from pitcher Skylar Bareford (Jr./Stonington, CT) to make it 4-1 going into the bottom of the 6^th inning. 

The Vikings offense would fire on all cylinders in the bottom of the inning.  Salem scored five runs to end the game in the bottom of the 6^th inning. Christina Cipriani (Peabody, MA) reached on an error to get things started and then three straight singles from Michelle Flower (Reading, MA), Ariana Yates (Worcester, MA) and Rebecca Krigman (Malden, MA) kept things clicking.  A double from Bryan and a sacrifice fly from Bergeron ended the game with a score of 9-1. 

Bryan earned the win on the mound for the Vikings pitching a two hitter and striking out six to bring her record to 8-2 on the season.  Bareford was hit with the loss for Gordon giving up 10 hits and seven earned runs, striking out two. 


Release courtesy of Salem State sports information
In the second game the Vikings scored in the bottom of the first inning to go up 1-0.  Bryan led off with a single, and then stole second base.  Bergeron hit a double and Garchinsky connected with an RBI single. 

Gordon tied the score 1-1 as Alyssa Unumb (Fr./Bedford, MA) reached on a single and scored on a sacrifice from Marissa Meenan (Fr./Wayne, PA).

Salem opened up the game in the bottom of the 3^rd inning.  Garchinsky knocked in three RBIs as the Vikings again took advantage of their base running scoring Paige Fleming (Methuen, MA), Bryan and Bergeron. 

The Vikings added to their lead in the bottom of the 4^thwhen  Krigman and classmate Shelia O’Sullivan led off with back to back singles and scored on a two RBI triple by Bryan for a 6-1 lead. 

Gordon got a run back on a single from Meenan that scored Unumb who led off the inning with a single to trail 6-2. 

Salem threatened to blow the game open in the bottom of the fifth but hit into back to back fielders choices with the bases loaded to be thrown out at home.  They added an insurance run on a passed ball that scored Flower for the final score of 7-2. 

Brittany Howe (Wichendon, MA) pitched three innings giving up just one hit, and one run.  Bergeron came in in relief and pitched 4 innings giving up six hits and striking out five for the victory making her 2-0 on the season.  Kelly Beardslee (Jr./Thomaston, Conn.) pitched 6 innings giving up 11 hits and striking out three in a losing effort for Gordon. 

Salem State returns to the field on Saturday when they host conference opponent Westfield State in a double header to start at noon.  Gordon resumes play Friday afternoon when they host Fisher College.