School Name Goes Here

Salem, MA -- Chris Cocci (Wakefield, RI) and Evan Valcourt (Salisbury, MA) both hit first inning home runs to lead the Salem State Vikings over the Norwich Cadets, 4-2 in a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon.

Cocci got the Vikings going with his first home run of the year in the bottom of the first and Valcourt followed with a two-run shot to quickly give Salem State a 3-0 lead.

Viking starter Ryan Sharp (Townsend, MA) was perfect through the first three innings before Norwich plated two runs. Dustin Shimkus (Collinsville, Ill) sent a line drive into the gap for a double and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher one batter later. Rob Knox (Conway, NH) followed with a triple to make the score 3-2.

Starter Austin Shaw (Yarmouth, ME) lasted only two innings allowing three runs, one earned, and had three strikeouts in the loss.

The Cadets threatened in the top of the sixth loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single, but Sharpe coaxed an inning ending fielder's choice to preserve the 3-2 lead.

Reliever Jonathan Philbrook (Rochester, MA) settled in and pitched three scoreless innings including striking out the side in the fourth before giving way to Ryan Kelley (Niskayuna, NY) in the sixth inning.

Salem State increased their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Following a walk and stolen base by Joe Galindo (Monument, CO). Devon Davis (Abington, MA) drove home his teammate with a single to left.

Jeff Borges (Westport, MA) relieved Sharp with one out in the seventh. Sharpe went six and one third innings allowing two unearned runs on four hits with six strikeouts to earn his first win of the season.

Borges kept the lead in tact allowing only one hit in one and two third innings pitched.

Mario Padovanni (Lynn, MA) made things interesting in the ninth. Knox led off with a double and moved to third on a single by James Ramsey (Vestal, NY). Following a hit batter, Padovanni picked off Ramsey at second and retired the next two batters to pick up his second save of the year.

Davis finished 2-for-4 for the Vikings with a run batted in, while Knox had a double and triple with one RBI for Norwich.

Salem State improved to 15-14 on the year while Norwich falls to 7-23.

Salem State will next host Emerson College on Friday, April 23rd beginning at 3:00 PM.