Huskies Take Two From Vikings

Salem, Mass. -- Lauren Merrill (Bethel, Mass.) fired a two-hitter to lead Southern Maine to a 2-0 victory over Salem State in their first game of their scheduled doubleheader on Wednesday at Alumni Field. The Huskies used a five-run first to catapult to a 9-0 win over the Vikings in game two. The Huskies are now 11-10 on the season while Salem State goes to 5-17. 

Game One

Merrill allowed just two singles while striking out three and issuing four walks in a complete game. The Huskies broke a scoreless tie in the fourth as Meaghan Dufresne (Mattapoisett, Mass.) hit a two-out double, and following a single that moved her to third, came home on a Salem State error for the game's first run.

Southern Maine extended the lead in the seventh when Belle Snyder (Epping, N.H) led-ff the inning by reaching third on a two-base throwing error by the Vikings. Lauren Miller (St. George, Maine) plated Miller with a single to right for a 2-0 Huskies' lead. Merrill retired the side in order to seal the win. Emily Carter (Warwick. R.I.) started for Salem State and was charged with a pair of runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Game Two

The Huskies scored five runs in the top of the first inning to pull ahead 5-0. Morgan Roast (Gorham, Mass.) brought home the first run on a single up the middle. Snyder added a second run on an RBI bunt single before Dufresne's two-run double to center made the score 4-0. Rona Scott's (Beverly, Mass.) single to left plated the fifth run of the inning.

Lauren Leidemann-Smith (South Berwick, Maine) added a two-run single in the second, making the score 7-0. A two-run double by Madison Day (Otisfield, Maine) pushed the lead to 9-0 in the fifth as the Huskies closed out the win in five innings.

Snyder earned the win going four innings and allowing four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Gracie Hogan (Blackstone, Mass.) lasted just an inning giving up eight hits, seven runs – three earned with two walks. Carter closed the game on the mound for the Vikings, pitching the final four innings and allowing two runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts. Dory Kulis (Georgetown, Maine) pitched the final inning for Southern Maine giving up a hit in an inning of work.

Miller had three hits for the Huskies while Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) went 2-for-2 with a walk for Salem State.