CLERMONT, FL - The first day at the 2017 PFX Spring Games was a rough one for the Salem International University softball team as the Tigers ended their day on Sunday afternoon (March 5) with a 9-0 loss (five innings) against Walsh University.

Senior Vanessa Jimenez and freshman Morgan Atkinson tallied both of the Tigers' hits against the Cavaliers. SIU returns to action on Monday afternoon (March 6) against Urbana University (1 p.m.) and Concordia (3:30 p.m.) on day two of the PFX Spring Games.

Junior Katie Holestin got the start for SIU and would see the Cavaliers plate three runs in the top of the first inning. Walsh opened the scoring with a double steal and would follow it up with an run-scoring triple from Kirsten Reed.

Kendra Moore then doubled to center field to plate Reed and give Walsh a 3-0 lead in the frame. The Tigers looked to respond in the bottom of the first inning against Walsh starter Ryan Kuula. Jimenez kicked-off the inning by reaching on an error by the first baseman. Junior Hanna Crew gave the Tigers two base runners after being hit by a pitch with one out in the frame. Kuula and the Cavaliers survived the frame by fanning back-to-back batters.

Walsh upped its lead to 4-0 in the top of the second inning after hitting a solo home run. The lead would stretch to 9-0 in the top of the third inning after the Cavaliers plated five runs.

Junior Tori Butler worked a one-out walk in the bottom portion of the third inning, but would quickly be erased from the bases thanks to an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

The Tigers had one more chance to rally in the bottom of the fifth inning as Atkinson and Jimenez both delivered singles for SIU. The Cavaliers would close-out the game by recording a fly-ball to center field to preserve the 9-0 victory in five innings.

Holestin (2-3) suffered the loss for SIU and fanned five batters over five innings of work. Kuula (1-2) earned the win for the Cavaliers and scattered two hits over five innings of work. She fanned eight batters and walked two.