Salem Falls Short Against Wisconsin-River Falls, 7-6

THE BASICS

Salem State, 6 vs. Wisconsin-River Falls, 7

Records: 

Salem State Vikings (1-3)

Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons (3-0)

Location: Auburndale, Fla. - RussMatt Baseball Fields

Date: Monday, March 16, 2026

THE LEAD:  The Salem State baseball team continued its Florida trip with a matchup against Wisconsin-River Falls. The Falcons ended up having a late rally to come away with a 7-6 win on Monday morning. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the bottom half of the first, Salme got on the board early thanks to a sacrifice fly from Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.) that allowed Ethan Stepputtis (Prospect, Conn.) to score after he walked to start the game.
• Wisconsin-River Falls responded and tied the game at one thanks to an RBI single from John Santelman. For the next three innings, though Salem's starter Collin Tenney (Woodbridge, Conn.) kept the Falcons bats quiet. In the fourth inning, Wisconsin-River Falls had a chance to pull ahead with runners at second and third with one out. However, Tenney ended up striking out the next two batters to keep the game even at one.
• After escaping another jam in the fifth, Salem's offense took advantage in the bottom half and plated two runs for a 3-1 advantage. Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) drove in the go-ahead run after taking advantage of an error by the Falcons second basemen that allowed Lucas Rincon (Revere, Mass.) to cross the plate after he singled to lead off the inning.
• Later in the same inning, Currier knocked in the Vikings' second run when he ripped a single to left center to bring in Salem's third run. The Blue and Orange continued their momentum going into the bottom half of the sixth as the squad tacked on three more runs to make it 6-1. Duggan highlighted the scoring that inning for Salem thanks to a two-run RBI single past the right side. 
• The Falcons would pick away at the deficit after scoring a run in the seventh, but ended up pulling within one thanks to a two-run eighth inning highlighted by an RBI from Andrew Athmann that found its way down the left field line, which made it 6-5. 
• Wisconsin River-Falls ended up recapturing the lead at the top of the ninth when Max Krebs drove in two with an RBI single up the middle. From then on, the Falcons pitching staff ended up retiring the Vikes in order for the 7-6 win.

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Duggan led the Salem offense with three RBIs while going 2-3 at the plate. Currier was the other lone Viking with multiple RBIs after finishing with two. 
• Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Conn.) also had a strong day at the plate by going 3-5.
• On the mound, Tenney got the no-decision after going six innings while allowing nine hits, three runs (two earned), and striking out four. Matt Walling (Plantsville, Conn.) ended up with the loss by tossing 1.0 IP and allowing one hit and two runs while striking out two.
• Krebs paced the Falcons' offense with a three-RBI day. 
• Jackson Conway got the start for Wisconsin-River Falls and earned a no-decision after going 4.1 IP while allowing seven hits, three runs (two earned), and fanning one. Brett Sullivan ended up with the win by throwing three innings and allowing three hits, no runs, and striking out four.
• Salem ended up outhitting Wisconsin-River Falls, 14-12.
• Monday's matchup marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

UP NEXT:

Salem resumes its Florida play when the squad takes on Vassar College on Tuesday, March 17 at 9:30 a.m.