Salem, Mass. -- Mike Richardson (Belmont, MA) pitched four effective innings in relief to lift Salem State past the Bates College Bobcats 6-1 in the Vikings' home opener on Tuesday afternoon. The Vikings even their record at 5-5 while Bates slips to 5-3. Richardson allowed just two hits and an unearned run to improve to 2-1 on the season

Salem State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Kevin Carens (Northborough, MA) led off with an infield hit and following a stolen base and walk, Richard Fecteau (Newbury, MA) and Jose Cedano (Lawrence, MA) hit back-to-back singles to put the Vikings up 2-0. A bases loaded walk to Teghan Malionek (Salem, MA) added another run as Salem State sent nine batters to the plate.

The Vikings tacked on a pair of runs in the second to increase their lead to 5-0 on an error, and Dan Connors (Danvers, MA) RBI single.

Cato Lacroix (Holliston, MA) started for Salem State and allowed two hits in two innings of work before being replaced by Sean Buckland (Lynn, MA) in the third.
Bates starting pitcher Connor Speed (San Diego, CA) was replaced by Connor Russell (Cumberland, ME) in the bottom of the third. Speed allowed five runs, three earned, on six hits in the loss.

Richardson entered in the fifth for the Vikings, replacing Buckland who allowed just one hit and no runs in two innings.

The Bobcats threatened in the sixth, as an error and infield single by Mekae Hyde (Lewiston, ME) put runners on the corners. However Malinok threw out Hyde, trying to steal before Evan Czopek (Portland, OR) put the Bobcats on the board with a double to deep left center. Richardson got out of the inning with a strikeout and the Vikings still leading 5-1.

The bullpen pitched well for Bates as Robert Jones (South Berwick ME) replaced Russell, who did not allow a hit in three innings of work. Aidan Sullivan (Yarmouth, ME) became the fourth Bobcats pitcher, entering in the seventh before Sam Maliska (Palo Alto, CA) closed out the game for Bates, which allowed just four base runners after the second inning and one unearned run.

Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, MA) went 2-for-3 with a walk for Salem state while Rockwell Jackson (Fort Worth, TX) collected a pair of hits for the Bobcats.

The Vikings host Suffolk University tomorrow at 3:30 PM while Bates travels to Maine-Farmington on April 1.