SALEM, MA

For the second straight year, the UMPI Softball team began their season on the road at Salem State. It was the first two of 12 games on the Owls' spring trip. The Owls went up against a very sound Vikings squad, who struck early in game one to cruise to a win, before UMPI went toe-to-toe with Salem in Game 2 but wasn't enough in the end.

Game 1: 15-1 Vikings

The first inning of game one seemed like it would never end for the Owls as they brought four baserunners the bat in the top half thanks to a two-out double from Gracelyn Wass, before surrendering 11 runs on four hits in the bottom of the 1^st.

If it wasn't for the nightmare bottom of the first, it would have been a much different story. The teams blanked each other for the next inning before Salem scored four more in the 3^rd. They were done scoring for the game, but they didn't need to, as they led 15-0.

The Owls' bright spot came in the top of the 5^th when last year's home run and average leader, Zoe Stewart hit a solo home run to avoid the shutout.

Top Performers:

The Owls had five hits on the day, the home run from Stewart being the highlight. Gracelyn Walsh had a double on a 1-2 hitting day. Sabrina Kauffman, Avery VonKadich, and Madison Boynton rounded out the hits for the Owls.

Game 2: 9-1 Vikings

This game was a much different story than Game 1, as the Owls stayed with the Vikings almost the whole time. Offense was much harder to generate – for both sides, as the first three innings went scoreless. UMPI was able to draw first blood in the 4^th inning. Sabrina Kauffman walked to lead things off. Back-to-back groundouts moved Kauffman over to third, and then Gracelyn Walsh put it in play, reaching on an error, which brought Kauffman home.

The Owls led 1-0, and the pitching of Hailey Saylor who earned the start in game two, had held the Vikings in check through the first three innings. UMPI's lead would be short lived however, as Salem brought in four runs in the home half of the 4^th.

Salem's 4-1 lead held into the bottom of the sixth, until Salem plated five more runs in the 6^th, to win in walk-off run-rule fashion, 9-1.

Top Performers:

Hailey Saylor kept the Owls in it with her performance in the circle. She tossed 5.2 innings, on six earned runs. A couple bad innings proved to be the difference, but she was able to salvage the game for most of it. Saylor also had one of two hits for the owls, going 1-3 in the leadoff spot. Keira Greene had the other hit for UMPI.

Up Next:

The Owls will have a travel day as they head further south to Fredericksburg, Virginia to take on the University of Mary Washington on Sunday. Those games begin at 11am.