Baseball falls to Salem State in MASCAC opening Doubleheader 5-0, 6-2

Salem, MA- The Salem State baseball team scored three runs in the sixth inning of game two to pull away from MCLA as they would defeat the Trailblazers 6-2 in the nightcap.  In the opener, Viking starter Sean Buckland tossed a two hit shutout leading them to a 5-0 victory in the MASCAC openers for both clubs.  With the wins, the Vikings are now 7-9-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.  MCLA drops their fifth straight in falling to 3-11 and 0-2 in the MASCAC.

In the opener, it was all Buckland for the hosts.  The senior lefty gave up a two out single in the first inning and a double in the third in improving to 3-0 on the season.  The Viking offense would push a run across off MCLA starter Liam Nolan in the second inning before chasing Nolan in the fifth after scoring four times to take command.

Andrew Deloury homered to begin the frame while Alex Toomey had a run scoring triple and Richie Fecteau had an RBI single in the frame.  Buckland meanwhile struck out the side in the fifth and faced just ten batters over the final three innings.

He struck out 12 Trailblazers and issued three walks in the win.  Billy Pulasky had both hits for MCLA.

Toomey and Fecteau each had two hits for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, the Vikings once again jumped out early collecting a 3-0 advantage after four innings of play.  Deloury drove in another run with a squeeze bunt while a wild pitch brought in another.

MCLA would make some noise in the sixth inning scoring twice.  Liam Nolan began the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball.  He would come around on Joe Dimassimo's RBI single.  Dimassimo would advance all the way to third on a wild pitch into scoring position.  Brett Labonte's sacrifice fly made it 3-2.  MCLA would put a pair of runners on continuing the inning, but the Viking bullpen would induce a groundout to end the frame.

In the bottom of the inning, the Vikings would extend the lead by pushing three runs across.  Mike Davis homered to lead off the inning off Robert Jutras.  Deloury would eventually reach on a walk and come around to score on a wild pitch.  Another wild pitch allowed Rourke Flynn to score and it was quickly 6-2 in favor of Salem heading to the 7th.

MCLA went down in order to end the game.

Dimassimo went a perfect 3-3 for the Trailblazers scoring a run and driving in one.  Labonte also had two hits and an RBI for MCLA.  Todd Hunt took the loss going the first five innings allowing three runs and striking out three batters.

MCLA outhit Salem 9-7 in the game as Davis had a pair of hits for the Vikings.

The Trailblazers are back in action on Tuesday when they head to Union College weather permitting.