BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (April 1) – The Tigers were dealt a pair of losses at West Virginia Wesleyan College, losing 8-0 and 5-3 in non-conference play at Culpepper Field.
 
The losses drop the Salem International University softball team to 4-16 overall. Meanwhile, the Bobcats, who are receiving votes in the latest NCAA Division II softball coaches poll, improve to 19-5 this season.
 
The Tigers fell behind 4-0 in the first game and chipped into the West Virginia Wesleyan lead with three runs, but could not overcome the deficit in Salem International's 5-3 game two loss.
 
The Tigers trailed 4-0 in the fifth inning when junior third baseman Kristie Young (Hollywood, Fla./McArthur) kept the inning alive with a two-out single. Freshman center fielder Tori Butler (Hedgesville, W.Va./Musselman) knocked Young in with a two-run home run, her first career long ball, to cut the Bobcat lead in half at 4-2.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan took advantage of an error in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 5-2. The Tigers then capitalized on a Bobcat error in the sixth to trim the deficit to 5-3 and had the game-tying run at the plate in the seventh, but West Virginia Wesleyan held on to earn the win.
 
Redshirt-freshman Kayla Lynch (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) took the loss in game two. Lynch (1-7) allowed five runs (three earned) on 13 hits and finished with three strikeouts.
 
Freshman Cass Alexy (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) collected a pair of hits, while Butler finished with the two-run home run.
 
The Bobcats scattered runs in five of the six innings played to pick up a 8-0 run-rule shortened win in game one of the doubleheader. The hosts only had one inning in which they scored more than one run.
 
Freshman Katie Holestin (Covington, Va./Allegheny) was charged with the game two loss. Holestin (3-9) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits with four strikeouts and only two walks.
 
Salem International was led at the plate by junior Katie Chryssofos (Chapmanville, W.Va./Logan) and freshman Alyssa Discepola (Rio Grande, N.J./Middle Township), who each finished with a double in the loss.
 
The Tigers are back on the diamond tomorrow, Thursday, April 2 for their home opener at Hope Field when they host Alderson Broaddus for the first of two doubleheaders. Originally slated for Friday and Saturday, the first pitch on Friday is set for 2 p.m.