Vikings Split on Second Day in Myrtle

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Salem State softball opened day two of their spring break trip against Muhlenberg, where they fell 12-3, before notching their first win of the season (8-0) against the University of Maine-Presque Isle.

Salem State vs. Muhlenberg

• The Mules started the game hot, stringing together four hits to notch just as many runs in the opening inning before Salem notched half those totals in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit to two (4-2) heading into the second inning.
• The Mules added two runs to their total in the top of the third while holding the Vikings hitless to take the 6-2 edge heading into the fourth inning, where they would add another two runs to their count.
• Muhlenberg used the top of the fifth to build on their lead, putting Salem in a 10-run deficit to start the bottom of the fifth. Mackenzie DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) was able to put the ball in play for the Vikings, bringing Allison Frost (Auburn, Mass.) home, but the next batter would ground out to short, sealing the Mules 12-3 victory over the Vikings.

Salem State vs. UMaine-Presque Isle

• Janae Santos (Cambridge, Mass.) started things off for the Vikings in the opening inning when she notched a triple, but a line drive ended the inning leaving Santos on third.  
• The Vikings opened the second inning aggressively, with DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.) landing on second due to an Owl error and eventually finding her way home on a sacrifice fly before Emily Henning (Grafton, Mass.) sent one over the fence to give the Vikings the 3-0 lead.
• The Vikings exploded for six hits in the fourth inning, highlighted by a Payton Jeffers' (Holly Ridge, N.C.) double that brought two of the Vikings' five runs in to give them the comfortable 8-0 lead.
• The Vikings' defense would leave the Owls scoreless over the next two innings, stranding a total of four runners on base, to take the eventual 8-0 victory.