CEDARVILLE, OH - The Salem International University softball team was able to erase a pair of deficits in game two against Cedarville University, before falling to the Yellow Jackets 8-7 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cedarville won both games against SIU on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 1).

Freshman Rosey Romick got the start for the Tigers in game two against the Yellow Jackets. Romick would struggle in the first inning, allowing three runs to score on four hits.

The 3-0 score would hold until the bottom of the fourth inning as Cedarville added a run after a throwing error by Romick allowed a run to score from second base.

Trailing 4-0 entering the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers looked to be out of rallies but would get some positive momentum going as junior center fielder Tori Butler doubled in sophomore Sam Perez.

Junior third baseman Ariana Garcia then laced a single which allowed Butler and freshman Morgan Atkinson to score, trimming the Cedarville lead to 4-3. Senior second baseman Vanessa Jimenez evened the score with her double over the right fielder's head, scoring Garcia from second base.

With the game knotted 4-4, the Tigers turned to junior Kayla Lynch out of the bullpen. The Yellow Jackets wouldn't go down without a fight, regaining the lead in the contest. Cedarville plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 7-4.

Cedarville appeared to have the game secured with just three-outs remaining in the game. SIU had other plans, rallying yet again to tie the game 7-7.

Atkinson trimmed the deficit to 7-5 as her single to center field scored junior Jordan Whitaker from second base. Freshman Naomi Smout then delivered a pinch-hit run-scoring single to left field to make it a one-run contest. Garcia sent a hard line drive to right field with one-out that would be caught but allow Atkinson to score and tie the game.

Lynch was handed the task of keeping the score knotted in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Yellow Jackets would waste no time in getting a runner into scoring position. A lead-off single and a stolen base put the potential game-winning run on second base. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third and would setup another bunt attempt that was placed perfectly to allow the winning run to score.

Lynch was handed with the loss for the Tigers after tossing the final 2.1 innings. Lynch allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, while walking two batters and fanning two. Romick surrendered four runs on 10 hits over four innings of work.

Atkinson finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate for the Tigers with one RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Kaleigh Decker and Perez each finished with two-hit games for SIU, with Perez scoring a pair of runs. Garcia paced the Tigers with three RBI's in the game.