CLERMONT, Fla. – The Salem University softball team's Spring Games came to an end Monday night after a win against American International (AIC) 9-5 and a loss to New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) 8-0.
The conclusion of the Spring Games takes the Tigers to 4-12 on the season.
In game one, Salem only out-hit the Yellow Jackets 10-7, but bats were connecting with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers started the game with a lead (1-0) after an infield error allowed a run to score. However, the Yellow Jackets bounced back in the bottom of the first with a couple of singles, taking the lead 3-0.
An RBI single from sophomore
Casey Moritz but another run on the board for the Tigers in the top of the second inning, 3-2.
The Tigers tied the game in the top of the third inning, 3-3, from a defensive error and a single from freshman
Paige Winans to allow junior
Rosey Romick to cross the plate.
The fourth inning was the inning that the Tigers won the game, scoring four more runs. Junior
Sydney McPherson led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. With one out on the board, freshman
Kimberly Reckling singled to center field to drive in McPherson for a 4-3 lead.
Another single from Moritz put runners on first and third for junior
Breanna Jimenez. Jimenez singled to third base bringing in Reckling to score and Moritz to advance to third base, 5-3.
With two outs, the Tigers loaded the bases after a base on ball was issued to junior pitcher
Christine Bombardiere. Two more walks were earned to score to earn two more runs increasing the lead 7-3 in heading into the bottom of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, AIC scored two runs off of an infield error to narrow the score 7-5.
The Tigers furthered their lead in the top of the seventh as McPherson started the inning with a single to center field. Reckling singled to shortstop, advancing McPherson to put runners on first and third for Moritz. An infield error allowed McPherson to cross the plate as runners moved to second and third 8-5.
Jimenez had an RBI grounder to second base, scoring Reckling to bring the score to 9-5, giving Salem the win.
Moritz, Jimenez and Winans each had two runs-batted-in, while Reckling went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Tigers. Bombardiere earned the win for the Tigers in the circle.
In game two, the Tigers fell short against the Bears for the second time in Florida 8-0.
A sloppy defensive inning for Salem allowed NYIT to put seven runs on the board in just the first inning of play, 7-0.
Although the Bears only out-hit the Tigers 8-7, five hits and three errors in the first inning gave NYIT some breathing room.
Romick led the Tigers going 2-for-2 at the plate with a double and a walk, while Bombardiere also added two more hits for Salem.
The Tigers are set to host Carlow (Pa.) Friday for a double-header starting at 2:00 p.m. at Hope Field.
