BRIDGEPORT, WV – The Salem University Tigers showcased a high-octane offense on April 30, 2026, splitting a competitive double-header against Wheeling University at "The Bridge". After narrowly falling in a back-and-forth slugfest in the opener, the Tigers roared back with a dominant shutout performance to close the day.
Game 1: Wheeling 9, Salem 8
The first matchup of the day was a marathon battle that saw both teams combine for 27 hits. Wheeling jumped to an early lead, but Salem snatched the momentum in the second inning, scoring three unearned runs after an error by the Wheeling pitcher.
The lead swapped hands again in the fourth when Wheeling's Mackenzie Bu launched a three-run home run. Salem refused to go quietly, as Layla McClung answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Tigers within striking distance. Abigail Harki and Brooke Wise added RBI doubles in the sixth to pull the Tigers within a single run, but a final seventh-inning rally fell just short.
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Game 2: Salem 9, Wheeling 0
If the first game was a grind, the second was a statement. The Tigers' bats exploded early, and pitcher Kendall Lemley provided a masterclass in the circle. Salem plated four runs in the first inning alone, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Layla McClung.
The Tigers put the game out of reach in the second inning with a trio of RBI doubles from Jacobi Gledhill, Kylie Zinn, and McClung. While the offense hummed, Lemley remained in total control, surrendering only three hits over five innings to secure her 12th win of the season. The game ended early via the run rule after Gina Alvaro drove in two more runs in the fourth.
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