Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MURFREESBORO, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2018) – The Salem University Tigers softball team opened its season with two losses on the first day of the Chowan University Hawks Softball Classic.
"We really were not ready to play the first game today," Head Coach Steve Potts said. "We came out very flat, surprisingly not excited to be on the field.

"It may have been nerves or first-game jitters. We played the second game with a little more energy and enthusiasm. We obviously need a lot of work. I am looking for the team to compete and improve tomorrow."

Game 1 – University of Sciences

As the home team, the Tigers' pitching staff struggled with its control in a 13-5 loss to the University of Sciences Devils.

Christine Bombardiere struggled in her first start in the pitcher's circle, hitting the first batter and walking three others, giving up two runs on no hits—the first on a wild pitch, the second on a sacrifice fly RBI by Lauren Davis before striking out two of the next three hitters to retire the side.

The Tigers opened the game with three consecutive singles from Casey Mortiz, Morgan Atkinson, and Hanna Crew. (Though Mortiz was thrown out at third on Atkinson's single). Bombardiere reached on a fielder's choice, knocking in Atkinson.

Rosey Romick took the pitcher's circle in the second as Devils put together back-to-back 3-0 innings in the second and third.

Romick walked four batters in the second inning, giving up three runs on just one hit (RBI single from Brooke Chisholm). After inducing two pop-ups to retire the first two hitters in the third, Romick surrendered a single and two doubles for two earned runs. A third run, unearned, was scored on a fielding error at shortstop.

Cass Alexy led off the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a Destinee Baldwin single to right field. Alexy later scored on passed ball to cut the Devils' lead to 8-2.

The Tigers took the fifth inning 2-1 on Bombardiere's two-RBI sacrifice fly to left field. Salem then give up four runs on five hits in the sixth inning. Atkinson hit a two-out home run in the bottom of the sixth to score the final run of the game.

Atkinson finished the game 4-for-4, scoring three runs with one RBI. Bombardiere had two RBIs while picking up the loss in the pitcher's circle. Salem's pitching staff faced 41 batters, walking nine, hitting two, and giving up nine earned runs on 12 hits.

Game 2 – West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Salem's first three hitters reached base in the top of the first inning, producing the Tigers lone run in a 5-1 loss.

Moritz led the game off with a single up the middle followed by an Atkinson walk to setup Crew's RBI single through the left side of the infield.

West Chester quickly responded with two runs on three hits in the same inning off a two-RBI single from Sara Ercolani. They added a third run in the second inning on a RBI single from Ashley Flesch. West Chester picked up two unearned runs in the fifth inning. 

Moritz finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Crew was 1-for-3 with one RBI. The Tigers managed just three hits. Romick started in the pitcher's circle for Salem, pitching all six innings, giving up five runs, three of which were earned, and walking three.

Salem will finish its weekend with two games on Sunday, facing West Chester again at 11 a.m.,  and Chowan University at 3 p.m.