Softball Captures Finale, Splits With Salem

SALEM, Mass. --   Emily Carter (Warwick, R.I.) went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI and starter Grace DuBois (Newton, N.H.) fired a four-hitter as Salem State defeated Westfield State 10-2 in a six-inning game one doubleheader victory. Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.) belted a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, breaking a 3-3 tie as the Owls salvaged a split with a 5-4 victory over the Vikings in the

Game One

Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.) belted a two-run home run in the top of the first to give Westfield State a quick 2-0 lead. Starter Grace DuBois (Newton, N.H.) struggled in the opening frame, but a 6-3 double play started by shortstop Gracie Hogan (Northbridge, Mass.) ended the threat. 

Salem State scored eight runs in the bottom of the third to to take an 8-2 lead. Hogan and Emily Carter (Warwick, R.I.) singled to open the inning. A throwing error plated two before Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) knocked in a pair of runs with a base hit to right. Brenna Welch (Halifax, Mass.) then replaced Westfield State starter Kiki Carrigan (North Adams, Mass.). A groundout to second by Mikayla (Porcaro) Amesbury, Mass.) and Hogan's second hit of the inning made it 6-2 in favor of the Vikings. Carter then added her second hit of the inning, a two-run double to left that scored Shyanne Greene (Dracut, Mass.), who had walked, and Hogan. 

Carrigan (0-2) allowed six runs, two earned on six hits with a strikeout. 

The Vikings added two runs in the bottom of the sixth, on two Westfield State errors and a walk to end the game.

Dubois (2-5) gave up just two runs on four hits, with a pair of strikeouts and three walks. The junior only allowed four baserunners after the first inning. Hogan went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.

Game Two

The Owls threatened again in the top of the first of game two. Following a hit by Emily Arredondo (Woburn, Mass.), Clark blasted a double off the centerfield fence. A walk loaded the bases with one out, but starter Sierra Ricci (Greene, R.I.) pitched out of the jam, recording a flyout and strikeout to end the inning.

Three straight hits to open the third by Lindsay Cordopatri (Walpole, Mass.), Arredondo, and Clark gave the Owls a 1-0 lead. Madison Philbrook (Westhampton, Mass.) laced a double into right center scoring Clark for a 2-0 Westfield State lead. However, back-to-back strikeouts by Ricci stranded runners on second and third.

The Vikings took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Payton Jeffers (Holly Ridge, N.C.) led off with a double to deep right. An error put two runners on for Porcaro, who tied the game with a double to leftcenter. An RBI groundout by Hogan put Salem State up 3-2. 

Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Westfield State rallied for three runs to re-take the lead. Back-to-back doubles by Cordopatri and Arredondo tied the game before Clark belted her second home run of the day to left, giving Westfield State a 5-3 lead.

Chiasson, doubled in a run in the bottom of the seventh for Salem State, but Owls' starter Arredondo recorded the final two outs to strand the tying run.

Arredondo (4-8) allowed four runs - two earned - in the victory with one strikeout. Ricci (2-5) was tagged with the loss, going, 6.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk. Carter closed out the game with a scoreless seventh. 

Clark finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Arredondo went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and RBI to help her cause.   

second game. Salem State ends their season with a record of 5-15 while Westfield State caps their season 9-19. 

The Vikings honored three members of its senior class in a ceremony in-between games. Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.), Dominique Del Vecchio (Stoneham, Mass.) and Mikayla Porcaro (Amesbury, Mass.) were all recognized for their commitment and dedication to the program.