WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem University softball team lost both games 6-4, 11-6 on opening day in double-header against Winston-Salem State, Friday afternoon.
The Tigers start the season off 0-2 while the Rams increase to 9-1.
In game one, the Tigers started behind 4-0 giving up a home run in the first inning and a pair of singles in the second.
Salem's offense came to life in the fourth inning after a pair of walks and a sacrifice bunt from senior
Veneise Mendez to put junior
Rosey Romick and junior
Morgan Atkinson in scoring position.
Junior
Sydney McPherson reached on an error from the first baseman to bring Romick across the plate as Atkinson advanced to third (4-1). Freshman
Kimberly Reckling singled through the right side to score Atkinson as McPherson and Reckling advanced to second and third. Senior
Kaleigh Decker singled up the middle to drive in two more runs tying the game 4-4.
The Rams went on to score one run in the bottom of the fourth off of a homer and another run in the bottom of the sixth to take the win 6-4.
Game two started a little differently for the Tigers as Romick and Atkinson were in scoring position for McPherson to hit the pair in with a single in the first inning to give Salem the lead 2-0.
Sophomore pitcher
Destinee Baldwin held the Rams to just one hit and a walk in the bottom of the first inning.
Reckling started the second inning with a single to bring Decker to the plate. The first baseman hit a two-run shot over the center field fence. With two outs on the board the Tigers added to their lead with a double from Romick and an RBI single from Atkinson to finish the top of the inning 5-0.
The Rams got hot in the second inning scoring three runs off of a pair of singles, a double and a home run to cut the lead to 5-3.
The Tigers scored their last run of the game in the top of the third after Mendez doubled and Decker added a single to the book and help from an error on the defense.
Winston-Salem went on to score eight more runs off of six hits including two more home runs as their defense held the Tigers to just two hits the rest of the game.
Decker finished the day 3-6 (.500) at the plate with five runs-batted-in. Romick also finished 3-6 (.500) along with a pair of walks and three runs.
The Tigers head to Athens, W.Va. February 27 for a double-header against Concord at 2:00 p.m.
