Vikings Prevail 6-5 Over Suffolk

SALEM, Mass. - Salem State opened up their 2016 home campaign with a 6-5 victory over Suffolk University on Tuesday afternoon at the Central Campus Baseball Field. The game was called in the bottom of the eighth due to darkness. The Vikings even their record at 1-1 while the Rams open 0-1.

Mike Richardson (Belmont, MA) earned the start for Salem State and went 4.1 innings allowing four hits and three runs with two strikeouts to earn a no-decision. Starter Kyle Turner (Nashua, NH) suffered the loss for Suffolk, lasting 4.2 innings, while giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits, with eight strikeouts.. Ryan Pordes went the remaining 2.1 innings and limited the Vikings to three hits to keep the Rams in the game.

Salem State wasted no time putting runs on the scoreboard. Mac Daniel Singleton (Everett, MA) reached first after getting hit by a pitch and a Mike Davis (Peabody, MA) single advanced the junior to second. Pre-season All-American second baseman Richard Fecteau (Newbury, MA) put Singleton in scoring position with a sacrifice fly, before Joe White (Bellingham, MA) singled to bring both Davis and Singleton home and make it a 2-0 game in favor of the hosts.

The two clubs went back-and-forth over the next three innings, each finding their stride. Down 2-0, Suffolk broke its silence in the top of the fifth not only getting on the scoreboard, but capturing a 4-2 lead with four runs. Drew Carter (Newburyport, MA) and Rob Marks (Revere, MA) hit back-to-back doubles that brought in Luke Ronchi (Randolph, NJ) and Jake Frasca (Darien, CT). Later, Seth Coiley (Arlington, MA) drew a bases loaded walk and Sean Cameron (Milford, MA) added an RBI groundout .

The Vikings countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. Davis and Fecteau hit back-to-back RBI doubles to tie the score before Alex Toomey (Beverly, MA) added a sacrifice fly to give the Vikings a 5-4 advantage. Coiley tied the game again for Suffolk in the seventh with a run scoring single, but Salem state countered in the bottom of the inning as Dan Connors (Danvers, MA) drove in Toomey with what proved to be the game-winning run with an RBI single.

Salem State was led by Connors, who had three hits and Davis (2-for-4, 2R, 1RBI). Singleton scored two runs while White collected a pair of hits with two RBI.

Sean Buckland (Lynn, MA) earned the win in relief. The senior pitched the final 3.2 innings for the Vikings, striking out four hitters and allowing two runs (one unearned).

Salem State heads to the Sunshine State for a seven-game, one-week tour opening up against Nichols Sunday, March 13. Suffolk heads to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational for its Spring Training trip where the Rams will face 10 opponents over nine days. The action for the Rams is scheduled to begin Friday, March 11 versus Montclair State.

(Courtesy Suffolk University Sports Information)