Duggan, Pare Lead Salem State to Opening Day Victory

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications 

SALEM, Mass. -- Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) went 3 for 4 with three runs batted in to give Salem State a 7-4 opening day victory over Gordon College on Monday afternoon at the Central Campus baseball field. The Vikings are now 1-0 on the young season while the Fighting Scots are 0-1. 

Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) pitched five innings and gave up only one run while striking out six,  with just one walk, and allowed only two hits to earn the win. Fighting Scots starter Brett Moore (Gloucester, Mass.) was the losing pitcher. He pitched 2.1 innings and allowed five hits, four runs with three of them earned.   

During the bottom of the inning, Salem State scored their first run of the 2024 campaign when Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.)  hit a stand-up RBI triple. This came after Mark Smith (East Haven, Conn.) reached on an error. The Vikings added one more run when Duggan singled up the middle to bring home Belgrove with the second run of the game.   

The Vikings were set up for a potential third run during the second inning after Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Heaven, Conn.) hit an opposite field single and eventually made his way to third, but unfortunately, Salem State couldn't capitalize on this opportunity. Gonzalez attempted to score on a wild pitch but was thrown out at the plate, and the game remained 2-0 in favor of the home team. 

During the top of the third inning, Pare struck out two of the three Fighting Scots batters that he faced. In the bottom of the inning, Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.)  hit a double to center field, setting up Salem State with men on second and third with one out.

That double knocked Moore out of the game. With the infield in, Duggan hit a rocket past first base, delivering two more Vikings' runs. Moore's line read 2.1 innings pitched, five hits, four runs, and three earned runs.

Salem State wasn't done yet. James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) split the outfield and scored two more runs, as the Vikings managed to score four runs during the inning, giving them a comfortable 6-0 lead heading into the fourth.

During the top of the fourth inning, the Fighting Scots started off the inning with a back-to-back doubles, scoring their first run of the game. However, Pare quickly settled in and retired the next three batters that he faced, limiting the damage.

Michael Pelletier (Clinton, Conn.) pitched for 1.2 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and a walk before Jack Birtwell (Norwell, Mass.) took over in the fifth inning. Salem State also made a call to the bullpen. Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) came on in relief in the sixth inning, with a man on first and one out. Jellison was able to get out of the inning with a four-six-three double play.

In the bottom of the sixth, after Gonzalez singled and stole second, he appeared to go to third on a sac fly, but Gordon appealed it, and they called Gonzalez out for the second out of the inning for leaving the base early.  

During the bottom of the seventh, Salem State had the bases loaded with two outs when Gonzalez walked to force home the seventh run for the Vikings. This knocked Britwell out of the game as Mike Williams (Peabody, Mass.) came in to pitch. He was able to get a strikeout, and the Vikings left the bases loaded. 

During the top of the ninth inning, Jellison was in trouble as he allowed the Fighting Scots to load the bases. Salem State closer, Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) came into the game, and Gordon managed to score three different times during the inning. Boucher was able to strike out Gianni Mercurio (Wakefield, Mass.) swinging to end the game, stranding two runners on base.

Salem State will be looking to continue their winning ways on March 3 when they will take on their North Shore rivals Endicott College at Beverly for a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to start at noon and game two at 3:00 p.m.