Vikings Split With Newbury

SALEM, MASS. – Salem State spilt a doubleheader against Newbury in the Vikings' home opener on Thursday afternoon. Luciana Mastromatteo's (Peabody, Mass.) and Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) each went 3-for-3 combining for four runs and five RBI, giving head coach Alex Campione her first win at Alumni Field as Salem State won game one,  16-6 in five innings. However, the Nighthawks came back in the second game to defeat the Vikings 10-5 as starter La Habra, Calif. (Shrewsbury, Mass.) pitched a complete game, allowing three unearned runs on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts. Salem State is now 6-4 on the season while Newbury goes to 2-10.  

Game 1

The Vikings got rolling early in the first inning. Kasey Nolan (Braintree, Mass.) singled and Mastromatteo advanced to third as Mikayla Porcaro (Amesbury, Mass.) scored the first run to give Salem State a 1-0 lead. Mastromatteo reached home on an error for a 2-0 advantage before Nolan and Berkowitz later scored to give the Vikings an early 4-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Cameron LeClaire (Clinton, Conn.) scored for Newbury on an RBI groundout by Hailey Shaw (Salem, N.H.) to cut the deficit 4-1.

The Vikings opened up the game in the bottom of the second inning, scoring 12 runs while capitalizing on four Newbury errors. Porcaro doubled to left field allowing Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) to score the first run of the inning for a 5-1 advantage. Overall, Salem State sent 15 batters to plate with Mastromatteo adding two hits and two RBI in the inning.

The Nighthawks plated a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings as Noelle Sass (Randolph, Mass.) and Ambur Leczel (Glendora, Calif.) had a run scoring triple and double to account for two of Newbury's runs.

Hannah Besaw (Shrewsbury, Mass.) took the loss pitching 1.1 innings with 16 runs (six earned). Dominique Del Vecchio (Stoneham, Mass.) earned the win pitching 3 innings allowing five runs (four earned.)

Porcaro finished with 2-for-3 with a double, three runs and two RBI.

Game 2

In the first inning, Leczel and Arianna Gooden (Bakersfield, Calif.) were both hit by a pitch to open the game. Leczel scored the first run for the Nighthawks and later, Kiana Hinson (La Habra, Calif.) doubled to right field putting Newbury up 3-0. Hinson then scored on the second passed ball of the inning.

In the top of the second, the Nighthawks made it 6-0 on a Mahoney RBI double and an  Alexis Viera (Pawtucket, R.I.) sacrifice fly.

The Vikings managed to score a run in the bottom of the second. Dominique Del Vecchio (Stoneham, Mass.) singled to center bringing home Kasey Nolan (Braintree, Mass.) with the first run for Salem State.

However, Newbury extended their lead to 8-1 in the third when Gooden hit a bases loaded double to score Cameron LeClaire (Clinton, Conn.) and Averi Johnson (Oregon City, Ore.).

The Vikings got one back in the bottom of the inning when Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) doubled to center field and Ivy Bonoldi (Medfield, Mass.) followed with a triple  to score Manousos.

Trailing 10-2, Salem State tried to climb their way back in the game in the fifth inning. Gracie Hogan (Northbridge, Mass.) connected on a base hit to centerfield plating two runs, but Newbury ended the threat.

The Vikings added a run in the seventh, but it was not enough as the Nighthawks won 10-5.

Brooke Westmoreland (Saugus, Mass.) took the loss, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing six runs -- three earned -- on three hits.