NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salem State University baseball team scored four runs in the top of the first before holding on for a 9-5 victory over Salve Regina University on Tuesday evening at Brother Reynolds Field. The loss drops the Seahawks to 4-7 on the season, while the Vikings improve to 9-3 with the win.

Senior Nicholas Politelli (Warwick, R.I.) led all players with three hits on the afternoon, while sophomore Dominic Di Sano (Central Falls, R.I.) went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and a team-high two runs batted in. Sophomore Daniel Donohue (Westbury, N.Y.) finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored from the leadoff spot for the Seahawks, while sophomore Thomas Betros (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) struck out three batters while tossing a pair of scoreless frames in relief.

Junior second baseman Kevin Salines (Melrose, Mass.) led the charge for the Vikings by scoring four times, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks and two stolen bases in the win. Sophomore Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, Mass.) went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs, while senior Chris Cocci (Wakefield, R.I.) and junior Steve Buitkus (Reading, Mass.) each compiled two hits, a run, and an RBI on the day. Junior Cory Collins (Winthrop, Mass.) was excellent on the mound before fading a bit late, finishing with eight strikeouts while surrendering four earned runs over 7.2 innings to earn the victory.

The Vikings took the early lead by posting four runs in the top of the first, receiving RBI singles from both McElroy and sophomore Brett Cahill (Gloucester, Mass.).

The Seahawks got on the board in the bottom of the second when freshman Joe Haley (North Kingstown, R.I.) led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then came around to score on Di Sano's RBI single through the left side of the infield.

Salem State expanded their lead to 7-1 by scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. Salines reached on an infield single in the fifth and promptly stole second before scoring on a base hit by Cocci. Buitkus manufactured a run all by himself the following inning, reaching on a single and then stealing both second and third before scampering home on a wild pitch.  Salines was back at it in the seventh, earning a leadoff walk and then stealing second and advancing to third when the throw went into center field. Salines eventually scored on a sac fly by sophomore Nick Conti (Lynn, Mass.).

The Seahawks scratched a run across in the bottom of the seventh to claw back within five runs at 7-2. Di Sano was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and then advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, before Donohue came through with a clutch two-out RBI single right back up the box.

However, the Vikings answered with a pair of runs in the eighth. After loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks, the Vikings scored on an error and an RBI single McElroy to take a 9-2 lead.

The Seahawks fought back in the bottom half of the inning, receiving back-to-back RBI doubles from both Nicholas Dell'Anno (Reading, Mass.) and Di Sano to cut the lead to 9-4 heading into the final frame.

After holding the Vikings off the board in the top half of the ninth, the Seahawks scored a run on a sacrifice fly by senior Matt Capone (East Providence, R.I.) before falling by the final score of 9-5.

The Vikings will be back in action tomorrow, hosting Endicott at 3 p.m., while the Seahawks take to the field on Thursday, welcoming Brandeis for a non-conference matchup starting at 3 p.m.