Owls Earn Come From Behind Victory

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass. -- Tommy Ahlers (Salem, N.H.) went 3 for 6 with two runs batted in to give Keene State a 7-5 extra-inning victory over Salem State on Tuesday afternoon at The Central Campus Baseball Field. The Owls improve to 6-11, while the Vikings dropped to 7-4.

How Did It Happen?

• Salem State did not waste any time during the first inning when Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.)  singled to left center field to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
• The Owls were able to even the score at 1-1 thanks to Brendan Eaton's (Nottingham, N.H.) ground-rule double, which allowed Evan Cali (Taunton, Mass.), who was on second base to score. 
• Both teams were tied with one run each until the fifth. It was then that Evan McCue (Waterford, Conn.) managed to score on a passed ball.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Vikings retook the lead when they scored twice. Field hit a fly ball to the right field scoring Mark Smith (East Haven, Conn.) from third. Then a bases loaded walk to Connor Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) forced in a run to make it 3-2.  
• During the next inning, Salem State successfully added another run to the scoreboard when Owen Duggan's (Billerica, Mass.) RBI single helped to extend the Vikings' lead to 4-2.
• In the eighth, Keene State came back and tied the score, 4-4. Ethan Rainha (Tolland, Conn.) hit a two-run double toward right-center field, bringing in two crucial runs for the Owls.
• Salem State retook the lead when Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Conn.) grounded out into a double play that scored Dylan Adamson (Lunenburg, Mass.) from third.
• The Vikings were two outs away from a victory in the ninth when Ahlers doubled down the left-field line to even up the scoring at five.
• During the 11th, Keene State's Otis Follet (East Hampton, Mass.) tripled to left center field, giving the Owls a 6-5 lead. Ahlers extended the cushion to 7-5 with a single.   

Behind The Numbers?

• George Young (Brentwood, Mass.) earned the victory, pitching an impressive 3.1 innings in relief and giving up just a hit. Meanwhile, Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) recorded the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and giving up three hits and three earned runs.
• Both starting pitchers picked up a no-decision. Salem State used six different relievers throughout the game.
• James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) went 3 for 6 while Field went 2 for 6 with two runs batted in.
• Eaton went 2 for 5 with an RBI for Keene State.

What's Next?

• Salem State will remain at The Central Campus Baseball Field for Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action against Fitchburg State on Friday. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.