Christine Bombardiere struck out 10 and tossed a four-hitter and Salem University rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth for a 3-2 victory over Winston-Salem State University in game one of an NCAA Division II softball doubleheader Saturday at Winston-Salem, N.C. The twinbill was the Tigers' 2020 season-opener.
 
The Tigers completed the sweep with a 7-5 victory in game two. Katrya Traylor doubled in a run in the sixth and pinch-runner Ki Johnson scored on a wild pitch in the seventh as Salem held on after seeing a five-run lead cut to a single run. Bombardiere pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.
 
Salem (2-0) trailed 2-1 in the opener when Morgan Atkinson led off the top of the sixth with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. After a walk to Kimberly Reckling, Chyann Hooker singled to center to plate Atkinson and tie the game 2-2. Sydney McPherson followed with a pinch-hit single up the middle to load the bases and Casey Moritz walked for the second time in the game to put the Tigers on top.
 
The Tigers broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fourth after loading the bases on a pair of walks and an infield single by Traylor. Reckling singled to right to drive in Adriana Sanchez and give Salem a 1-0 lead.
 
Bombardiere (1-0) held Winston-Salem State hitless until allowing a two-out double in the bottom of the fourth. She lost her shutout bid on a two-run double with two outs in the fifth. Bombardiere retired the final seven batters she faced to secure the win.
 
In the nightcap, the Tigers erupted for four runs in the second as starting pitcher Brianna Bennett helped her cause with a one-out single. After a walk to Bombardiere, Bennett advanced to third and scored the first run of the game when Ringer reached on an error. Bombardiere scored on Moritz's rbi-groundout and Sanchez and Traylor capped the inning with rbi-singles.
 
The Tigers extended the lead to 5-0 after Ringer singled and stole second to lead off the fourth inning. After advancing to third on Breanna Jimenez's bunt single, Ringer tagged up and turned Sanchez's foul out to right into a sacrifice fly.
 
Winston-Salem State (1-7) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fourth and added a two-run homer in the fifth to pull within 5-4. But that was as close as the Rams would get as the Tigers added a pair of insurance runs.
 
Bennett went three-plus innings and Rosey Romick (1-0) pitched three innings of relief for the win. Bombardiere worked around a one-out error in the seventh.
 
Salem returns to action Sunday as the Tigers travel to Richmond, Va., to take on Virginia Union University in a doubleheader. First pitch is at noon.