Vikings Clip Falcons in Ninth

SALEM, Mass. – Jake Boucher's (Wallingford, Conn.) one-out single in the ninth scored Matthew Casare (North Caldwell, N.J.) from second, breaking a 4-4 tie to propel Salem State to a 5-4 victory over Fitchburg State in the opening game of their three-game series on Friday at The Central Campus Baseball Field. Boucher also pitched a scoreless ninth, retiring the side in order, to earn his first win of the season. The Vikings improve to 11-7 and 3-1 in the MASCAC while the Falcons slide to 3-19 on the year and 0-4 in the league.  

Salem State jumped on top 3-0 in the first.  Boucher led off the game with a ground-rule double to deep left center. Following an error, Zach Piroh (Stratford, Conn.) launched his team-leading fifth home run of the season to right center, putting the Vikings on top by three runs.

Salem State added another run in the third to go up 4-0. Piroh singled with one out and went to third on a double by Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.). Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) hit a single back up the middle to plate Piroh for the game's fourth run.

Fitchburg State countered in the bottom of the inning as Connor Morehouse (Wetherby Lake, Mo.) ripped a line drive over the left field fence, scoring two runs, making the score 4-2.

Falcons' starter Orion Daily (Nantucket, Mass.) then kept the Vikings off the scoreboard, allowing just three singles over the next five innings. Fitchburg State added a single run in the seventh on a Morehouse double and tied the game in the eighth as Zachary Malak (Schenectady, N.Y.) brought home Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.), who had singled with a double to right.

Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) started for Salem State and went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Carl Beatrice (Wilmington, Mass.) retired the only batter he faced in relief of Pare in the seventh. Reliever Greg Gentle (Arlington, Mass.) allowed a run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts before giving way to Boucher in the ninth.

Falcons' starter Daily went the distance, allowing five runs – four earned on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts in the loss.

Burt finished 3-for-4 with an RBI while Piroh and Boucher each collected two hits apiece with Piroh knocking in three runs and scoring twice for the Vikings.

Morehouse led Fitchburg State's offense with two hits and three RBI.