SUTHERLAND, Va. (March 13) – The Tigers opened play in Virginia with a win over Mansfield, before losing three times, including an 11-inning marathon, to Edinboro Thursday and Friday at the Dinwiddle Sports Complex.
 
The Salem International University softball team now stands at 4-4 overall this season. Mansfield fell to 4-3, while Edinboro improved its record to 8-2 overall this season.
 
Freshman Cass Alexy (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) finished the four-game set with eight hits, including two doubles and a triple, and scored three runs for the Tigers, while sophomore Summer Clark (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) added six hits, four runs and a pair of steals. Junior Katie Chryssofos (Chapmanville, W.Va./Logan) added five hits and four RBI, including two doubles and a home run, and freshman Tori Butler (Hedgesville, W.Va./Musselman) added four hits and three runs scored over the two days.

GAME 1 - Salem International 7, Mansfield 3

After having nearly a month off since their last contest, the Tigers didn't miss a beat in their 7-3 win over Mansfield to kick-off Thursday evening. Salem International totaled 10 hits and scored a run in nearly every inning, including a three-run first to earn the win.
 
The Tigers were patient at the plate in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs despite only one hit. Salem International loaded the bases with the help of two walks and a hit batter, before junior Jane Judware (North Lawrence, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central)  drew a RBI walk to score the game's first run. Senior Kayla Guta (Bentleyville, Pa./Bentworth) earned the lone hit of the frame with a RBI single up the middle and junior Brittany Diss (Byesville, Ohio/Meadowbrook) drew another RBI walk to put the Tigers up 3-0 after one inning.
 
Mansfield tied the game with a three-run second inning, but Salem International regained the lead in the bottom half on a RBI double by Alexy to put the Tigers up 4-3 after two innings.
 
Salem International continued to tack onto its lead with a RBI single by freshman Shannon Lynch (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) in the third inning and a double-steal that scored a run in the fifth inning. Chryssofos tallied the final insurance marker of the game with a solo home run in the sixth to put the game out of reach for the Mounties.
 
Freshman Katie Holestin (Covington, Va./Alleghany) earned the win for the Tigers, allowing three runs on three hits with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
 
Clark reached base in all four of her appearances at the plate. She finished the game with three hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases to lead the team.

GAME 2 - Edinboro 8, Salem International 0 (F/6)

The Tigers could not overcome four home runs by Edinboro in the team's 8-0 run-rule shortened loss to the Fighting Scots on Thursday night. Edinboro jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning behind a pair of homers and ended the night with a walk off home run to deal Salem International its second loss of the season.
 
The Tigers scattered six hits in the game, with their only threat occurring in the sixth inning when they had runners at first and second with no outs. The Fighting Scots escaped the frame unscathed after a strikeout, pick-off and a ground out ended the inning.
 
Redshirt-freshman Kayla Lynch (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) took the loss in the nightcap. Lynch (1-2) allowed six runs on nine hits and struck out four in 5.0 innings of work.  Alexy led the Tigers at the plate with a pair of singles in the loss.
 
GAME 3 - Edinboro 5, Salem International 2

Edinboro scored runs in each of the first three innings Friday morning in their 5-2 win over Salem International in game one of the doubleheader.
 
The Tigers struck early when Alexy doubled and was driven in on an RBI double by Discepola to give Salem International a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
 
The Fighting Scots responded in the bottom half of the first with a two-run home run and plated another in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Tigers brought the deficit to one, 3-2, when Alexy tripled and scored on a passed ball, but Edinboro added two more runs in the bottom of the third and held Salem International to two hits over the final four innings.
 
Holestin was charged with the loss after she allowed five runs on five hits, but the Virginia native tied a season-high with six strikeouts in defeat.
 
GAME 4 - Edinboro 15, Salem International 5 (F/11)

In the final game of the day, the Tigers and Fighting Scots played for over three hours, before a 10-run 11th inning gave Edinboro a 15-5 win and a three-game sweep over Salem International.
 
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second inning when Butler singled and scored on a passed ball. A Chryssofos double scored two more Tigers to give the team a 3-0 lead after two played.
 
Edinboro took advantage of a fielding error in the fourth inning to trim the Salem International lead, but another RBI base-hit by Chryssofos in the bottom half of the frame extended the Tiger lead back to 4-2.
 
Salem International headed into the final inning with the lead intact, but the Fighting Scots plated two runs on three hits, including a game-tying double, to send the game into extra innings.
 
Edinboro took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th inning on a two-out double, but Salem International evened the score in the bottom half of the frame on a RBI single by junior Kristie Young (Hollywood, Fla./McArthur). The Tigers had the winning run at third base, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat in the inning.
 
The Fighting Scots took complete command of the game in the 11th inning, scoring 10 runs on nine hits to take a 15-5 lead. The Tigers went down in order in the bottom half of the inning to end the game after three hours and 20 minutes of play.
 
Chryssofos and Alexy each finished with three hits, with Chryssofos leading the team with three RBI in the game. Clark and Butler each connected for two hits as well in the loss.
 
Holestin (3-2) took the loss, striking out three and allowing 11 runs (10 earned) in 4.1 innings of relief, with most of the damage coming in the final inning.
 
The two teams combined for 34 hits, but left 27 runners on base in the marathon finale.   
 
The Tigers next scheduled contest against Shepherd on Wednesday, March 18 has been moved to an away game in Shepherdstown, W.Va., weather permitting. Please continue to visit siutigerpride.com for schedule updates.