RBI-singles by Kimberly Reckling, Rosey Romick and Breanna Jimenez highlighted a five-run fourth inning as Salem University defeated Virginia Union University 9-1 in game one of an NCAA II softball doubleheader Sunday at Richmond, Va. Romick also tossed a complete-game four-hitter in the circle.
 
Virginia Union took the second game 7-1 to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season.
 
In the opener, Katrya Traylor's first-inning rbi-single gave Salem (3-1) an early 1-0 lead. After Virginia Union evened the score with a run in the bottom of the second, the Tigers broke the game open in the top of the fourth.
 
Adriana Sanchez drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on Traylor's second single of the day and scored when Morgan Atkinson reached on an error. Christine Bombardiere reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases and Traylor scored on Reckling's single to right.
 
Atkinson came home on Romick's one-out bunt single and Bombardiere scored when Casey Moritz reached on an error. Jimenez singled to center to plate Reckling and give the Tigers a 6-1 lead.
 
Reckling's rbi-double and Olivia Davoli's run-scoring infield single highlighted a three-run seventh inning for Salem.
 
Romick (2-0) struck out the side in the first inning and allowed only two hits after the second inning. Romick finished with seven strikeouts.
 
In the nightcap, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second without benefit of a hit. Atkinson reached on an error to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a groundout and went to third on a wild pitch. After Sydney McPherson walked and stole second, Atkinson scored when Chyann Hooker reached on a two-out error. Salem loaded the bases, but Virginia Union got out of the inning with a forceout.
 
Virginia Union (1-3) took the lead on Audrenik Howard's three-run homer in the bottom of the third and the Panthers added four runs in the fifth.
 
Salem is off until February 26 when the Tigers travel to Athens, W.Va., for a doubleheader against Concord University.