Lasers Sweep Vikings in Non-Conference Battle

NEWTON, Mass. – Salem State softball put a pause on conference play this afternoon as they traveled to Newton, Massachusetts for a non-conference bout with the Lasers of Lasell University. Despite the Vikings grabbing a 2-0 lead in both games, the Lasers would sweep the Vikings (8-2, 9-2) to drop Salem to 7-15 overall. The Vikings have a quick turn around as they look to get back in the win column tomorrow when they welcome the Lynx of Lesley University for a doubleheader.

Game 1

• Maddison Donovan (Pittsfield, Mass.) got the Vikings started in the top of the first inning with a single to left field that brought home Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) for the game's opening run. Later in the inning, Donovan would cross the plate to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead before the Lasers' defense left two runners on base to send the game into the bottom half of the first inning.
• The Lasers used the second and third inning to tie the game at two before exploding for four runs an inning later to take a 6-2 lead heading into the fifth.
• Lasell would add two more runs, thanks to an RBI double from Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.), to capture the 8-2 victory in game one. 

Game 2

• An RBI double from Sydney Rodriguez (Brighton, Colo.) in the top of the first would be followed by a second inning pitcher's duel to go into the third inning with the 1-0 tilt.
• Payton Jeffers (Holly Ridge, N.C.) drove in Walker in the top of the third to give the Vikings the 2-0 lead, to tie their largest lead on the afternoon.
• The Vikings' two-run lead would be short lived as the Lasers would tie the game at two in a two hit third inning.
•  The game would remain in a stalemate until the fifth inning, when the Lasers were able to notch four hits and capitalize on poor fielding to add seven runs to their total (9-2).
• Emily Henning (Grafton, Mass.) and Walker both tried to make some noise with base hits in the closing two innings but the Vikings' rally wouldn't extend pass that as the Lasers took the eventual 9-2 victory to secure the sweep on the afternoon.