Salem, Mass. -- JJ Branch (Milford, MA) scattered seven hits over seven innings and allowed just three runs to propel the Endicott College Gulls to a 9-4 victory over the Salem State Vikings at the Central Campus Field on Thursday afternoon. Branch struckout seven in improving to 3-1 on the year. Endicott raises its record to 14-7 while Salem State slips to 12-7.

Endicott College struck first when Michael Deonato (Chelmsford, MA) walked, stole third base and scored on an error. Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, MA) also walked, one of three walks issued in the inning by Salem State starter Tim Woods (Wilmington, MA) and scored on a sac-fly to make it 2-0 Gulls. Matthew Paola (Middlebury, CT) added the third Endicott run of the inning with an RBI double to make it a 3-0 game in the first.

The Gulls upped their lead to 5-0 in the second. DeDonato hit an RBI groundout, and Oringer added an RBI triple. Woods went two innings innings, giving up five runs runs on three hits before he was replaced by Jason Vizena (Gloucester, MA).

Oringer recorded his second RBI on sac-fly in the fourth inning to increase Endicott's lead to 6-0. Ryan Kelleher (Hanover, MA) came on in relief for the Vikings in the fifth inning. Vizena went two innings, giving up a hit and a run.

Endicott added three more runs in the sixth to increase their lead to 9-0. Mike Kochiss (St. Albans, VT) provided the big blow, a two-run double to center field.

The Vikings got on the board when Mike Davis (Peabody, MA) drove in a run on a single in the seventh inning. Kevin Carens (Northborough, MA) added a two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh to make it a 9-3 game.

Rafael Tylus (Danvers, MA) pitched a scoreless eighth for Salem State, striking out the side.

Davarna Nova (Buzzards Bay, MA) closed the game for the Gulls while Steve Leavitt (Peabody, MA) pitched the ninth for Salem State.

DeDonato and Cam Farnham combined for seven stolen bases for Endicott , which stole 13 as a team.

Oringer finished 2-for-3 with a triple for Endicott with three RBI. Davis and Colton Fontaine (Newburyport, MA) each had two hits for the Vikings.

Salem State will next travel to Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Sunday for a double-header that starts at 12:00 PM. Endicott next plays at Gordon College in a double-header on Sunday beginning at 12:00 PM.