BLUEFIELD, WV - The Salem International University Tigers were finally able to make the trip to Bluefield on Wednesday afternoon for a pair of games against the Bluefield State College Blues. The Tigers came-away with a pair of victories, 14-4 and 18-3, as SIU swept the four-game season series between the two teams.

Sophomore Kaleigh Decker finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate with one double, four runs batted in, and two runs scored. Senior Jordan Williams went 3-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, four RBIs, and three runs scored on the day. Junior Hanna Crew also recorded four RBIs on the day and went 2-for-6 with one double and five runs scored for SIU.

SIU finishes the 2017 at home on Thursday afternoon at Hope Field. The Tigers face Kentucky State in a doubleheader beginning at noon. Live stats will be available for both games between the two teams.

The Tigers scored the first-two runs of the afternoon in the top of the first inning against Blues starter Emily Day. With two outs in the frame, Crew worked a walk to give the Tigers their first base runner in the contest. Junior Ariana Garcia followed Crew with a triple to right field to give SIU a 1-0 lead. Freshman Sydney McPherson kept the inning alive for the Tigers by reaching base on an error by the Blues at first base. The error allowed Garcia to score from third base and up the SIU lead to 2-0.

Bluefield would plate a pair of runs against junior starter Kayla Lynch and the Tigers in the bottom of the inning. Lyndsay Hatfield hit a one-out two-run home run to center field to knot the score 2-2. The inning ended with back-to-back strikeouts from Lynch.

After playing a scoreless second inning, SIU took 6-2 lead in the top of the third inning. Senior Vanessa Jimenez started the inning with a walk and would advance to third base after stealing second and heading to third on a passed ball. Jimenez then scored as Crew delivered with a run-scoring single to right field. Leading 4-2, Williams singled to right center and plated Garcia and freshman Rosey Romick to give the Tigers a four-run lead.

Holding a 10-3 lead entering the top of the seventh inning, the Tigers would add four runs to their total. Junior Ashley Williams gave the Tigers an 11-3 lead with her pinch-hit RBI single to center field. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Crew laced a double out to right center to plate both runs and make it 13-3. Decker rounded-out the scoring with a single back up the middle to score one run.

Romick pitched the bottom of the seventh inning for SIU after taking over for Lynch, who saw each of the first-three batters in the frame reach base. Romick would get two quick outs from the Blues before a throwing error allowed one run to score. With the bases loaded, Romick got a fly ball to left field to end the game and strand three runners on base for Bluefield.

Lynch recorded the victory for the Tigers after allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits through six innings of work. She also fanned nine batters and walked three in the game.

In game two, the Blues got onto the scoreboard first as they tallied two hits against SIU junior Katie Holestin. Bluefield took a 1-0 lead with a ground-out to third base as the runner would score from third base. The Tigers quickly erased the 1-0 deficit by scoring eight runs in the top of the second inning. SIU recorded seven hits in the frame including a trio of two-RBI base knocks. Sophomore Jordan Whitaker delivered the first two-run hit with a single to right center. Jordan Williams then followed with a double down the left field line to plate a pair of runs. Garcia laced her own two-run double down the left field line to make it 7-1.

SIU would plate seven more runs in the top of the third inning with a some help from the Blues. Jimenez and junior Tori Butler both tallied two-run hits in the frame for the Tigers. SIU would also score in the frame thanks to a passed ball, a bases-loaded walk, and a ground-out.

After the Tigers upped their lead to 18-1 in the top of the fifth inning, the Blues responded by scoring twice in the bottom of the frame. Bluefield scored a pair of runs against Romick, who took-over for Holestin to start the inning. After a lead-off walk, a double to right center plated the first-run of the frame for the Blues. A single to center field scored the third-run of the game for Bluefield but that would be as close to attempting a rally that the Blues would get.

Holestin earned the win for the Tigers after scattering one runs and six hits through four innings of work. She fanned one batter and walked one in the game. Romick allowed two runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in one inning of work.