DUBOIS, Pennsylvania - The Salem Tigers softball team headed up to central Pennsylvania today to compete in the opening rounds of the USCAA Small College World Series. The Tigers opened up their second ever appearance in this postseason tournament with a pair of Penn State opponents back to back. First, Salem took on the host Penn State Dubois, and then they moved on to the 2 seed Penn State Mont Alto. Salem defeated the host school in Game 1, but fell in a tight ballgame with Mont Alto in Game 2. Each contest played out as follows:

Salem 7, Penn State Dubois 4

For the opening round of the tournament, Salem needed to get going quickly in order to take control of the contest away from the de facto home squad. They did just that when Meladie LaRance and Brooke Wise both singled to get things started, and Ricki Garay added a 2 run triple right after to make it 2-0. The Tigers kept the momentum up in the next inning as well. Kaydee Anderson opened with a double, and then Kayla Williams brought her home with Salem's second triple of the day. Sierra Chapa then scored Williams from third with a RBI single, and Salem pushed their lead up to 4-1. The Tigers kept pushing in the 3rd as well. Kaydee Anderson added an RBI off of a single that scored Alyvia Pittman, and then Kayla Williams brought in 2 RBI off a single that she added 2 bases to on a Dubois error. Salem held the game at 7-1 at this point, but this contest was far from over. Dubois rallied to 3 more runs in the final 2 innings, but the combined efforts of starter Andrea Gallegos and Kendall Lemley protected the lead and shut the door for the Tigers to seal the victory, and set up Salem's round 2 matchup with Penn State Mont Alto. 

Penn State Mont Alto 5, Salem 4

In Game 2, Salem again got started quickly. They opened with a Ricki Garay double that brought home Kaydee Anderson to make it 1-0. Mont Alto answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first to knot things up, but Salem returned with a rally of their own. Syriah Trujillo opened the 4th inning with a double, and then Abigail Harki brought her home with an RBI single. Kayla Williams then added a double that brought home Victoria Castro, who pinch ran for Harki. Salem then added to their 3-1 advantage when Syriah Trujillo opened the 6th with a triple, and then Abigail Harki brought her home on a sacrifice fly. Unfortunately, that 4-1 lead was not quite enough to survive a 7th inning furious comeback from Mont Alto, and Salem fell 5-4. 

However, this loss does not end Salem's chances in this double elimination tournament. Salem will be back in action again tomorrow in Dubois for the nightcap contest. First pitch for that contest is set for 8 PM, and the opponent is yet to be determined.