Salem State Holds Off Late Gordon Rally

SALEM, Mass. - Andrew McLaughlin (Peabody, Mass.) went 8.1 innings and collected nine strikeouts as the Salem State Vikings posted a 3-1 victory over the Gordon College Fighting Scots on Wednesday at the Central Campus Baseball Field. Salem State goes to 4-3 on the season while Gordon College slips to 1-13 on the year.

McLaughlin, who allowed just one earned run, was in control until the ninth. The Fighting Scots made a late game push when Christian Hodge (Waltham, Mass.) singled and Chris Leavitt (East Bridgewater, Mass.) snuck one inside the left field foul line to put runners on second and third. Brock Riley (Lowell, Mass.) relieved McLaughlin, who was greeted by a Matt Paulsen (Latham, N.Y.) single to right field, scoring Hodge, which made it 3-1. With runners on second and third and two out, John Lagerfeldt (Stratford, Conn.) struck a drive to deep right center, which was snared by right fielder Luke Eggers ((Duxbury, Mass.), for the final out, preserving the 3-1 win.  

Both starting pitchers entered the fourth without allowing any runs. McLaughlin had four strikeouts and Gordon's Mark Gadaleta (Chappaqua, N.Y.) had two strikeouts. Gadaleta pitched three innings and walked two players while not allowing a hit.

In the bottom of the fifth, Salem State got their first base hit by Zac Duval (Middleton, Mass.). Mike Griffin (Hudson, Mass.) reached first base after a line drive to left field. Eggers groundball out moved the runners and Brendan Greene (Winchester, Mass.) followed with a hit up the middle plating Duval with the game's first run.

In the bottom of the sixth the Vikings threatened again. Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.) walked and advanced to second base. Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) lofted a pitch to centerfield, but an error put Rebello on second while Marquez reached third. Hunter Routhier (Nashua, N.H.) walked Griffin to load the bases, but Gordon got out the jam by forcing Pat Fitzgerald (Auburn, Mass.) into a groundout.

In the bottom of the 7th, Greene singled to left and Eggers advanced to third. Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) struck a base hit up the middle scoring Eggers.  Rebello later singled in Greene to extend the Vikings' lead 3-0.

Routhier took the loss pitching two innings, two earned runs, and three walks. Riley earned the save pitching 0.2 innings while allowing only one hit.