Vikings, Bears Split Doubleheader

Recap, photo courtesy of Salem State

SALEM, MASS. –  Salem State and Bridgewater State split a doubleheader in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener for both schools on Friday. Originally scheduled to be played at Bridgewater State, Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with three RBI to help Salem State to a 12-7 win in game one.  In game two, Mackenzie Holt (Gilroy, Calif.) pitched four solid innings, allowing just a run on seven hits as the Bears won 6-2.

Game 1
Tied 1-1 in the third, the Vikings plated three runs to open a 4-1 lead. A wild pitch scored the first run while Crovo knocked in two more with a base hit to center.  Kaitlyn Shaw (Lakeville, Mass.) replaced starter Holt in the third after Holt allowed six runs on five hits. Trailing 6-3, Bridgewater State pulled to within a run on an RBI single by Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.), but Salem State pitcher Meghan Black prevented further damage as she retired Samantha Mulcahy (Tauton, Mass.) with the bases loaded to keep the Vikings in front.

Salem State opened up a six-run lead, scoring four times in the fourth, Dominique Del Vecchio
(Stoneham, Mass.) and Samantha Holey (Lynn, Mass.) had RBI's in the inning. The Bears left the bases full in the fifth, but Carvalho cleared the bases with a triple to left center that pulled Bridgewater State to within 11-7. Salem State added an insurance run in the seventh and Black retired the side in the final inning as Salem State took game one 12-7. Black went all seven innings and allowed seven runs (four earned) on 13 hits with two strikeouts. Shaw pitched five innings in relief, giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits.

Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) and Gabby Cardenas (Oxford, Mass.) had two hits and combined for three runs batted in. Carvalho finished 4-for-4 with four RBI for the Bears. Holt picked up the win, after replacing Shaw, who lasted three innings for the Bears and allowed a run on five hits.

Game 2
Salem State jumped on top in the first on a single by Cardenas, but two runs by the Bears on a single by Mulcahy put Bridgewater State up 2-1 in the second.  An RBI groundout by Meghan Navarro (Taunton, Mass.) pushed the lead to 3-1 in the fourth. The Vikings crept to within a run in the fifth on an RBI fileder's choice by April Adams (Burlington Mass.). However, a two-run single by Carvalho and a run scoring single by Navarro iced the game in the sixth as the Bears held on for a 6-2 victory. Iliesh Burney (Bristol, Conn.) took the loss, going six innings and allowing six runs (one earned) on nine hits.

Carvalho and Navarro finished with two hits and two RBI for Bridgewater State.  Adams went 3-for-5 for the Vikings while Cardenas added two hits, including a triple. Manousos had two outfield assists for the Vikings.