BRIDGEPORT, West Virginia - After a pair of tough contests to split with West Liberty yesterday, the Salem Tigers softball team played host to the other Mountain East Conference resident of the state's northern panhandle on Saturday evening, namely the Wheeling Cardinals. Salem split with the Cardinals up in Wheeling earlier in the season, so the fans at The Bridge Sports Complex knew they were in for another pair of tight ball games. They got just that with Salem coming from behind to take Game 1, but falling just short in Game 2. Each contest played out as follows:

Salem 4, Wheeling 3

For Game 1, the Tigers took control right off the bat. Sierra Chapa opened the contest with a bunt single, and then a pair of Cardinal errors allowed Meladie LaRance to reach 1st and allowed Chapa to get home. The Tigers clung to that tight 1-0 lead through the next 4 innings, but the Cardinals were able to get back in front with a 3 run home run in the 6th. With their backs against the wall, Salem dug deep and launched their comeback bid in the bottom of the 7th. After back to back singles from Kaydee Anderson and Syriah Trujillo, the Tigers were able to utilize a Cardinal error after Anderson's single to score both runners to knot the game up at 3. After a Marissa Jeffery double, Meladie LaRance was able to seal the walk off win for the Tigers with an RBI single that brought home Kayla Williams. In the pitcher's circle, both Andrea Gallegos and Brooke Wise made appearances for the Tigers. 

Wheeling 6, Salem 4

In Game 2, the Tigers found themselves in a tough spot early on when Wheeling took a 2-0 lead in the first. Salem battled right back though with a Alyvia Pittman RBI single that brought home Sierra Chapa. However, Wheeling added 2 more runs in both the 3rd and 4th innings to put the Tigers down 6-1 heading into the bottom of the 4th. Salem was able to build a rally in response though when Sierra Chapa knocked a single with the bases loaded that scored 3 runs to make it 6-4. However, this is where the Salem rally fizzled out, and Wheeling held on to hand the Tigers a tight 6-4 loss. In the pitcher's circle, Brooke Wise, Kayla Williams, and Destiny Coble all made appearances for the Tigers, and they combined to strike out 3 Cardinal batters in the contest. 

While this contest does conclude the regular season slate for the Tigers, Salem still has a chance to compete in the USCAA Small College World Series in Dubois, Pennsylvania. That field for that event will be announced on Tuesday, May 7th at Noon.