Vikings Rally to Take Florida Opener, Sweep Bard

Photo Credit: Pearllan Cipriano - Bard College

AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Salem State opened up their Florida trip with a pair of 8-7 wins over Bard College at Lake Myrtle Park on Sunday afternoon. Aidan Lynch's two-run double in the bottom of the seventh, propelled Salem State to an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Raptors in game one. Salem State used five pitchers in game two to hold off Bard, who had the tying and go-ahead runs on second and third in the seventh. Two strikeouts and a popup by Jake Boucher ended the threat as Boucher picked up his first save of the season. The Vikings are now 2-1 to start the season while the Raptors are 2-7.

Game 1

Jake Boucher earned the win pitching the final 2/3 of inning, allowing no runs on one hit with a strikeout. Starter Aidan Carabello went 2.2 innings giving up three runs on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Matt Walling threw 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Antonio Belgrove blasted a to-run home run to center while Dylan Adamson - 3-for-3 with a walk and run and Nolan Currier 2-for-2 with a walk and run contributed to the offense.

How it Happened:

• Bard built a 6-0 lead over the first four  innings, as an Andrew Plenn two-run home run in the third and a James Karras three-run home run in the fourth spurred the offense.
• Trailing 6-1 in the fifth, Antonio Belgrove launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to cut the deficit to 6-3. 
• Yabdriel Gonzalez's two-run single in the sixth, brought Salem State to within a run.
• The Raptors plated a run in the top of the seventh, making the score 7-5.
• The Vikings took advantage of two errors to begin the seventh inning before a wild pitch scored Belgrove with the first run of the inning. Following a walk, Lynch then doubled to right field to drive home the tying and game-winning runs.

Game 2

Anthony Butkevicius earned the win as Salem State's fourth pitcher of the game in game two. Butkevicius was charged with a run on two walks while not allowing a hit in an inning of work. Riley Fenerty started for the Vikings giving up four runs on three hits with a walk and strikeout before giving way to Brandon McMahon, who had an inning of scoreless relief. Currier went 2-for-5 with a run and RBI in the second game while Antonio Belgrove was 1-for-2 with a run, RBI and two walks.

How it Happened:

• Currier's RBI single in the first gave Salem State a 1-0 lead.
• Bard scored three in the bottom of the frame on a three-run double by Jimmy Famularo.
• Single runs by the Raptors in the second and third put the Vikings behind 5-1.
• Salem State responded with three in the fourth when Derek Angell, who had walked, scored on a wild pitch.Belgrove's RBI single to right scored another run before a passed ball scored Gonzalez with the third run.
• Back-to-back RBI singles by Angell and Boucher with the bases loaded put the Vikings on top 6-5 in the fifth. Gonzalez's RBI groundout then made the score 7-5 in favor of the Vikings.
• The Raptors added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Dylan Adamson's sacrifice fly gave the Vikings a two-run cushion.
• Bard rallied in the seventh, scoring a run on an RBI single by Jamie Fryer, but Boucher got pinch-hitter Johnny O'Connor to pop up to first with two runners in scoring position to end the game.