Softball Opens Season With Sweep Against UMPI

THE BASICS 

Score: 
GM 1 – Salem State University, 15 vs. University of Maine Presque Isle (UMPI), 1 (5 inn.)
GM 2 – Salem State University, 9 vs. UMPI, 1 (6 inn.)

Records: 
Salem State Vikings (2-0)
UMPI Owls (0-2)

Location: Salem, Mass. – Alumni Field

Date: Friday, March 13, 2026

THE LEAD – The Salem State softball team kicked off the 2026 season with a doubleheader sweep against UMPI by topping the Owls 15-1 in the first game, and 9-1 in the second, on Friday afternoon at Alumni Field. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• Salem utilized an 11-run first inning to give itself a large lead early in the contest. Charlie Benesh (Naperville, Ill.) and Tara Perryman (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) both highlighted the Vikes' scoring with two-run RBI singles in the frame.
• Later in the third, Salem tacked on four more runs and pushed its lead to 15 (15-0) courtesy of RBIs from Alanis Toledano (Boston, Mass.), Paige Souza (New Bedford, Mass.), and Giana Johanson (Rutland, Mass.). 
• Despite a late fifth-inning homer from Zoe Stewart that made it 15-1, Vikings pitcher Sula Roberge (Enfield, Conn.) retired the next three batters and secured the 15-1 win. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

• Benesh and Perryman led the Vikings offense with three RBIs apiece. 
• Salem starter Gracie Martineau (Westminster, Mass.) notched the win by tossing 3.0 IP while allowing three hits and no runs while fanning three.
• Stewart highlighted UMPI's offense with the solo homer in the game.
• Madison Boynton took the loss in the opening game for the Owls, going all five innings and allowing 15 runs (13 earned) while striking out three. 
• Salem's 15 runs are the most scored since 2023 (April 6, 2023 vs. New England College, 16-6). 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• In the first three innings, neither side let the other gain any momentum as the sides went scoreless. UMPI had a strong chance in the third after the Owls had a lead-off single. Later in the inning, Hailey Saylor ripped a single to left, and Keira Greene rounded third to try and break the scoreless tie, but thanks to a strong throw from Abby Richardson (Bluefield, W.Va.), Greene was out at the plate, and the contest remained scoreless. 
• UMPI ultimately did end up breaking the scoreless tie in the following inning when Gracelyn Walsh drove in Sabrina Kauffman, who drew a walk earlier. However, responded in the bottom half of the fourth and grabbed its first lead of the day with a four-run inning. Toledano highlighted the scoring with a two-run RBI double that made it 2-1 at the time.
• After a scoreless fifth between both sides, Salem once again mercy ruled the Owls, behind a five-run sixth inning. Samantha Gaona- Sullivan (Billerica, Mass.) put the game away for good thanks to an inside-the-park homer that found a gap into deep right field. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

• Three different Vikings finished the day with multiple RBIs led by Gaona- Sullivan's three. Toledano and Johanson both had two RBIs apiece.
• Toledano notched the win after going 4.0 IP while allowing two hits and one run while striking out four.
• Saylor earned the loss after 5.2 IP of work, allowing six hits, nine runs (six earned), and striking out six.
• Salem extended its win streak versus UMPI to five games and has outscored the Owls 43-2.
• The Blue and Orange have now started the season with a doubleheader sweep in their last two seasons.

UP NEXT

Salem kicks off its week in Florida with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 15, at 12:30 p.m. against Keene State and then at 2:45 p.m. versus Rutgers Camden.