SALEM, Mass. (courtesy Salem State sports information) – The Judges of Brandeis University and the Vikings of Salem State split a doubleheader at Alumni Field on Thursday evening. In game one, Madison Gagnon (Westlake Village, Cal.) went 2-for-4 with three RBI's and Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn.) threw a complete game to lift Brandeis to a 6-3 victory. In game two, Cara Crowley (Lynn, Mass.) went went 3-for-3 with two RBI as the Vikings earned an 8-7 win to salvage a split. Salem State is now 9-16-1 on the year while Brandeis is 14-10.
Game 1
The Judges opened a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Gagnon led off with a walk, and following a stolen base, scored on a base hit by Liana Moss (Agoura Hills, Cal.). Salem State starterLauren Haberern (Neffs, Pa.) was replaced after one inning of work by Francesca Perreault (Everett, Mass.).
The Vikings took the lead in the second when Jenn Toussaint (Reading, Mass.) doubled home Rebecca Krigman, who had walked, with the first run. Perreault plated the second run when she worked a bases loaded walk.
Meanwhile, Perrault kept the Judges off the scoreboard until the fifth when Brandeis tied the game. A lead-off triple by Anya Kamber (Sammamish, Wash.) chased Perreault. Lauren DiCredico(Tewksbury, Mass.) came on in relief and limited the damage to just a run, as Moss hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Brandeis added another run in the sixth, before opening the game up in the top of the seventh with three runs to take a 6-2 lead. Amanda Genovese (North Haven , Conn.) singled with the bases load to drive in one run, and Gagnon doubled to score two more.
The Vikings managed a run in the seventh on a Bobby Dee Regan triple (Lynn, Mass.) and groundout by Krigman, but it was not enough.
Nolan improved to 5-0 on the year after going the distance and allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. DiCredico (3-6) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits.
Game 2
Leading 1-0 in the second, Brandeis opened up a 3-1 lead when Leah McWilliams (Billerica, Mass.) doubled home two runs. However, Salem State drew to within 3-2 on a Crowley RBI single. Vikings's starter Haberern was relieved after just two innings of work and was replaced by Sarah Hastings (Marblehead, Mass.).
Salem State rallied for four runs in the third to take a 6-4 lead. Judges' starter Nikki Cote (Shelton, Conn.) allowed a lead-off triple to Krigman, who came home on an RBI single by Toussaint.Jerika Santiago (Methuen, Mass.) knocked in two more runs with a single and Crowley added another RBI base hit to cap the scoring.
Brandeis tied the game in the fifth when Cori Coleman (Burr Ridge, Ill.) scored two with a double. Melissa Soleimani (Somerset, Mass.) replaced Cote in the bottom of the inning after Salem State had scored a run to regain the lead. Olivia Brothers (Peabody, Mass.) walked to open the inning and after Michelle Flower (Reading, Mass.) singled, came around to score on a throwing error by the catcher. Santiago added another hit and added another run when she stole second as Flower crossed the plate.
The Judges added a run in the top of the seventh when Kamber doubled and scored on a base hit by Moss. However, Moss was thrown out at second and Perreault recorded the final out for the 8-7 victory.
Perreault evens her record at 4-4 after going two and one third innings, and allowing a run on two hits. Cote (3-6) took the loss, going four and one third innings, and allowing eight runs on 12 hits.
Salem State heads to Bridgewater State for a double header this Saturday at 1:00 PM while Brandeis hosts WPI next Wednesday at 3:00 PM.