(Game 1 Box) (Game 2 Box) 

            SALEM, Mass. - The Plymouth State University softball team split a non-conference softball doubleheader against Salem State College Thursday afternoon at Collins Cove Field, scoring nine runs on 14 hits in a 9-1 victory in the opener but managing only three runs on two hits in a 5-3 setback in the night cap.

            PSU extended its winning streak to six games with the victory in the opener, and finish the day with an 11-4 overall record.  The split gives Salem State a 9-7 mark this spring.

            Sophomore Melissa Caiazzo (Portland, Maine) led the Panther attack in the first game with three hits and two RBI in the first four innings, including a pair of doubles and two runs scored.  Classmate Kortney Nedeau (Kennebunk, Maine) added an RBI triple and an RBI double; freshman Allie Luisi (North Kingstown, R.I.) chipped in with a double, a triple, a walk, and a squeeze bunt that score a run; freshman Amy Green(Atkinson, N.H./Timberlane) had a pair of RBI singles, and sophomore Andrea Pydynkowski (Danvers, Mass.) finished with two hits, including a double.

            Senior Courtney MacFarland (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton) improved to 6-2 with the win for PSU, allowing just one hit and one unearned run in five innings, striking out five.  Freshman Ali Keith (Northfield, N.H./Winnissquam) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, giving up just a walk and a hit.

            Salem State took a 1-0 lead in the third inning of the nightcap as junior Jess Baird (Worcester, Mass.) led off with a double and came home on a single by sophomore Laura Concannon (Everett, Mass.)  PSU answered in the top of the fourth with three runs, the final two coming home on a big two-out, two-run triple by junior Kay LaBrie (Somersworth, N.H.)

            The Vikings came back to win the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Junior Amanda Scola (Leominster, Mass.) started the rally with a lead-off home run, and freshmen Katelynn Fanning (East Boston, Mass.) and Stefanie Zina (Abington, Mass.) finished it with RBI singles.

            Fanning earned the win in relief for Salem State, pitching three-and-two-thirds innings and allowing only one run and one hit. Keith took the loss in relief for PSU, coming on in the sixth inning after junior Jenna George (Cumberland, R.I.) allowed two hits to start the inning.  George gave up just one run on three hits through the first five innings before faltering in the sixth.

            PSU returns to Little East Conference action Saturday with a twinbill at Eastern Connecticut State University (1:00 p.m.)  Salem State hosts Fitchburg State Saturday in a Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. 

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