DUBOIS, Pennsylvania - After a busy day on Sunday of awards and home run derbys, the Salem softball team was primed and ready to finally start the actual competition at the USCAA Small College World Series. The Tigers took on a familiar foe in Carlow, and they used that familiarity to uncork a stunning 13 run offensive output that got their Small College World Series stay off to a hot start. 

However, the Tigers hit some adversity early on. The Celtics took a 1-0 lead with 2 hits in the first, but Salem answered with 2 monster innings in the 2nd and 3rd. In the second, Karmen Hogan opened things up with a double, and advanced to third on a Destiny Coble single. Kyleigh Cook then put Salem on the board with an RBI double. After an Alexis Valverde walk, Bella Ortiz brought in 2 more runs with a single, and Abigail Harki brought in 2 more with a double. Kendall Lemely would advance Harki to third on a single, and Harki would add the final run of the inning on a wild pitch. 

In the third, Salem got right back at it. A Carlow error allowed Kylie Zinn to reach first to lead off the inning, and then Karmen Hogan drove her home with her 2nd double of the game. Walks drawn Destiny Coble and Kyleigh Cook forced a Celtic pitching change with the bases loaded.  After the change, Alexis Valverde brought a run in by hitting into a fielder's choice. Bella Ortiz drew the third walk of the inning for the Tigers before Kendall Lemley brought in 2 more runs with a single. Brooke Wise then brought in a run with an RBI single before swiping second base to keep the rally going. Kylie Zinn then singled to bring in 2 more runs to make it 13-1. Karmen Hogan and Destiny Coble added 2 more singles in the inning, but the scoring concluded there. 

From there on out, Salem shifted their focus to closing the door on the Celtics and sealing the dominant victory. They did just that behind some strong pitching from Franchesca Alvaro, who finished the game with 6 strikeouts and earned her 8th win of the season for her 5 innings of work.

Next Up, Salem is set to take on the Seawolves of Southern Maine in the 2nd round of the USCAA Small College World Series. That contest is set to take place on Tuesday, May 13th at 4 PM in Dubois, Pennsylvania.