SALEM, Mass – The Buccaneers and Vikings opened a three-game conference Series Friday afternoon in Salem. The Bucs never led in the game and went to the eighth down 3-2. Salem scored four times in the bottom of the eighth to win their fourth conference game in 2019, 7-2. With the loss, Maritime falls to 0-5 in conference.

How It Happened

Salem took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a Madoc Fisher (Wayne, N.J.) double to centerfield. The Bucs tied the game in the top of the fourth with Ben Paine (Dartmouth, Mass) scoring on a ground out to second base by Jackson Simone (Seattle, Wash). In the bottom of the fourth frame, the Vikings took the lead once again scoring a run on a Buccaneer miscue.

The middle innings were uneventful with neither team scoring in the fifth or sixth innings. In the bottom of the seventh however, Salem State picked up a third run on a steal of third base which the Bucs misplayed allowing the run to come across.

Maritime closed the gap to one once again in the top of the eighth on a Viking error allowing Paine to reach and Michael Doyle (Boston, Mass) to score. With the score at 3-2 and the Bucs within reach, the Vikings broke off a four run inning in the bottom of the eighth, on three single and an error. Maritime was unable to score in the ninth and Salem closed the first game of the third game MASCAC series out with a score of 7-2.

Inside The Numbers

On The Mound

Salem State: Andrew McLaughlin (Peabody, Mass) (W, 0-5): CG | 9 IP | 5 H | 2 R | 1 ER | 0 BB | 7K

Mass Maritime: Brian Kwedor (Marshfield, Mass) (L, 0-5): 7 IP | 7 H | 3 R | 1 ER | 4 BB | 7 K

At The Plate

Salem State went 11-for-35 at the plate. Traverse Brianna led the team with three hits. Two other players had multi-hit games.

Lead-off hitter, Shawn Rebello drove in two runs and scored once. Two players scored twice for the hosts.

Salem drew five walks, struck out seven times and left nine runners on base.

The Vikings had three extra base hits, two by Kyle O'Connor, a double and a triple.

Maritime went 5-for-33 offensively. Five different players had the hits for Maritime.

Paul Sances (Middleboro, Mass) and Doyle scored the two runs for the Bucs.

Simone was the only hitter to drive in a run.

The Bucs didn't draw any walks, struck out seven times and left five runners on base.

Frank Aten (Brockton, Mass) and Doyle had the two extra base hits in the game for the visitors, both doubles.

Up Next: The Bucs host Salem State tomorrow for a conference double header beginning at 12pm.