The Salem University softball team battled in a tightly contested doubleheader against California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday at The Bridge in Bridgeport, falling 4-2 in the opener before dropping a narrow 3-1 extra-inning decision in game two.
Game One: California (PA) 4, Salem 2
Salem outhit California 8-6 in the first game but was undone by one big inning.
After five scoreless frames, California broke through in the top of the fifth on an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans added three more in the sixth, highlighted by a three-run home run.
The Tigers answered in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman infielder Kendall Lemley ignited the rally with a two-run home run to left field, scoring Addison King, who entered as a pinch runner after a single by Abigail Harki. The blast cut the deficit to 4-2 and gave Salem life heading into the final frame.
Salem threatened again in the seventh as Gina Alvaro and Alyssa Schultz delivered back-to-back singles, but the rally stalled with two runners left on base.
Lemley finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and also went the distance in the circle, striking out five in seven innings of work. Brooke Wise paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, while Schultz added two hits of her own.
Game Two: California (PA) 3, Salem 1 (8 innings)
Game two was a pitcher's duel between Salem's Franchesca Alvaro and California's tandem in the circle.
California struck first in the fourth inning with an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. Salem answered in the fifth with disciplined at-bats. Destiny Coble worked a walk and Addison King as a pinch runner later scored on an RBI single by Harki, knotting the game at 1-1.
Alvaro was steady throughout, scattering six hits and allowing just two earned runs over eight innings while striking out two. The freshman worked out of multiple jams, including stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings.
The game moved to the international tiebreaker in the eighth. California capitalized with a two-RBI double to take a 3-1 advantage. Salem placed Kylie Zinn at second to begin the bottom half and moved her to third on a wild pitch, but the Tigers were unable to push the tying runs across.
Harki accounted for Salem's lone RBI, while Zinn, Lemley, Kyliegh Cook, and Alexis Valverde each recorded hits in the contest.
Salem showed resilience throughout the day, matching California inning for inning in both contests. The Tigers will look to build on the strong pitching performances and timely hitting as they continue early-season play.
