Salem State Takes Twinbill Against MCLA

Salem, MA- The Salem State University baseball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit in game one as they pulled out a 3-2 eight inning win over MCLA this afternoon on the SSU campus.  The Vikings completed the twinbill sweep with a 5-1 win in the nightcap.

MCLA falls to 9-24 overall and is 3-14 in the MASCAC.  Salem State improves to 15-16 overall and is 9-8 in the league.

Game One: Salem St. 3 - MCLA 2 (8 innings)

In the opening game, both starting pitchers threw well as MCLA's Bobby New was locked up with SSU's Andrew McLaughlin.  The game was scoreless through four innings before MCLA finally broke the ice in the fifth.

The Trailblazers started the scoring on Austin Rachiele's RBI single which scored Dillon Maxon for a 1-0 advantage.  New shut down the Vikings in the home fifth and then MCLA added another tally in the sixth.

Jeff Bink's single brought around Diego Rivera who had doubled, to increase the lead to 2-0.  The game would remain that way until the seventh inning. 

New couldn't close out the Vikings as the first two runners reached base.  A failed bunt attempt led to the first out, but Madoc Fisher's RBI single to center made it 2-1 in favor of MCLA, but more importantly put runners at the corners with just one out.

Christian Burt lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Traverse Briana tying the game up at 2-2 and sending it to extras.  McLaughlin would toss a scoreless eighth and the Vikings would push across the game winner in the bottom half.

With one out, Shawn Robello singled and Brendan Greene walked to put runners on first and second.  An infield single by Briana loaded the bases and set the stage for Kyle O'Connor.  He lofted a New pitch well into center field for a sacrifice fly and the Vikings walked off with the win.

Briana and O'Connor each had a pair of hits to pace the Vikings eight hit attack in the win.  McLaughlin improved to 7-0 on the season as he went the distance.  He allowed just six hits and struck out six Trailblazers.

Rachiele had a pair of hits to lead MCLA.  New absorbed the loss as he dropped to 4-5 on the season.  He struck out four Vikings in defeat.

Game Two: Salem State 5 MCLA 1

Stephen Keskinidis fresh off his no-hitter against Fitchburg State, followed up with four-hit, one-run performance as Salem State completed the sweep with a 5-1 victory. Keskinidis started the sixth, but back-to-back walks brought in reliever Brock Riley, who ended the threat with a scoreless inning in reliref, which included two strikeouts.

MCLA starter Brendan Kelly lasted four innings in the loss, allowing two runs on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Mike Urbanski and Ryan Ruef each allowed an earned run in one inning of relief.

Briana and O'Connor provided the only runs Salem State would need on an sacrifice fly and single in the third. Logan Rumbolt drew MCLA to within a run with a fourth inning single. Madoc Fisher capped four straight hits by the Vikings with an RBI single in the fifth. A fielder's choice and sacrifice fly gave Salem Salem State some breathing room in the fifthas the lead grew to 5-1.

The Trailblazers last chance bid was extinguished by Riley, who inherited two runners with no one out  in the seventh. Following a strikeout and walk, Riley recorded the final two outs as MCLA left the bases full to end the game.