Seven-Run Ninth Propels Baseball Past MCLA, 7-5

THE BASICS

Salem State, 7 at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), 5

Records: 

Salem State Vikings (13-13, 9-7 MASCAC)

MCLA Trailblazers (8-20, 2-14 MASCAC)

Location: North Adams, Mass. - Joe Wolfe Field

Date: Monday, April 20, 2026

THE LEAD: Despite trailing 3-0 for most of the contest, the Salem State baseball team utilized a seven-run ninth inning to complete its comeback, taking down the hosts, 7-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• MCLA struck first on Monday thanks to a first-inning RBI single courtesy of Joshua Bissaillon. As both sides' pitchers kept the other team's offense in check, Salem had a chance to get on the board in the top half of the fifth thanks to back-to-back singles from Lucas Rincon (Revere, Mass.) and Cameron Diprizio (Wakefield, Mass.) with one out. However, MCLA starter Cam Harrington escaped the jam by retiring the next two Salem hitters.
• In the bottom half of the frame, the Trailblazers pushed their lead to three (3-0) with a two-run RBI single from Roshan Warriar. Throughout the next four innings, Salem continued to have issues getting on the board. However, the Vikes finally got on the board when Rincon drove in two with an RBI single.
• Later in the ninth, after Gonzalez brought home a run after getting hit, Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.) brought in three after miscues by the MCLA defense, which made it a 6-3 ballgame. Michael Buccaro (Guilford, Conn.) gave Salem its seventh run after he drove in Currier.
• The Trailblazers would not go quietly as the hosts cut into the deficit when Bissaillon notched a two-run RBI single to right center that made it 7-5 with two outs. Despite the late rally, the Blue and Orange retired the next batter and earned a 7-5 comeback win.

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Rincon led the Salem offense with two RBIs on the day.
• Ethan Hill (Stratford, Conn.) earned the no-decision in the start on Monday. Hill went 5.0 IP while allowing four hits, three runs, and tying his career-high in strikeouts with six.
• Jackson Beehr (Walpole, Mass.) earned his first career win after coming in relief. The first year went 3.0 IP and gave up one hit, no runs, and struck out a career-high five.
• Bissaillon led the Trailblazers offense with three RBIs.
• Cam Harrington finished with a no-decision after throwing eight innings while giving up two hits, two runs (zero earned), and striking out eight.
• Collin Booth ended up with the loss after going 0.1 IP and allowed one hit and three runs (zero earned).
• Salem has now won the last 13 games against MCLA, dating back to the 2019 season.

UP NEXT:

Salem continues its road trip when the squad heads to Suffolk for a non-conference matchup on Thursday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m.