Piroh's Two Home Runs Power Salem State Past Keene State

SALEM, Mass. -- Zach Piroh (Stratford, Conn.) homered twice as part of a three-hit day and drove in four runs as Salem State gave new head coach Jason Falcon his first win in a 9-3 victory over Keene State in the Vikings' home opener at The Central Campus Baseball Field on Tuesday afternoon. Salem State improves to 1-2 while the Owls slip to 0-3. 

Starter Brad Feeder (Parker, Colo.) picked up his first victory, going 5.1 innings while allowing two runs on five hits.  

Salem State opened the bottom of the first with four straight hits. Traverse Briana (Peabody, Mass.) plated the first run with an RBi single off starter Alex Koletar (Stratford,, Conn.). Piroh then cleared the bases with a three-run home run to right, giving the Vikings a 4-0 lead. Nathaniel Hudson (Florence, Vt.) knocked in the first run for Keene State in the top of the second with a bases loaded single, but letffielder Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) prevented further damage with a perfect strike to home, limiting the Owls to one run.

Jake Boucher's (Wallingford, Conn.) RBI triple highlighted a three-run second as the Vikings extended their lead to 7-1.

Brendan Eaton's (Nottingham, N.H.) sacrifice fly with the bases loadeds scored the second run for the Owls, but Feeder worked out of further damage allowing Salem State to hold a five-run lead. 

Kyle Banche (Torrington, Mass.) relieved Feeder with one out in the top of the sixth as Banche and Juan Hurtado (Homestead, Fla.) pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.  

Piroh connected for his second home run of the game in the seventh off relief pitcher Will Dolaher (Melrose, Mass.), making the score 9-2 in favor of the Vikings. A wild pitch in the ninth scored the third run for the Owls off pither Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.). 

Christian Burt (Lynn Mass.) went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI's for the Vikings. Boucher and Jack Sefrino (Dartmouth, Mass.) collected a pair of hits for the Vikings.

Koletar lasted just one inning for Keene State in the loss, allowing four runs on five hits. The Owls managed just six singles on the day with two coming from Josh Beayon (Pittsford, Vt.).