BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Salem State University first-year Richard Fecteau (Newbury, Mass.) recorded two of his five hits in a six-run eighth inning to help the Vikings rally from a four-run deficit and defeat host Babson College, 7-5, in a non-conference baseball game at Govoni Field on Tuesday.

Fecteau finished the day 5-for-5 with two doubles, a run, and an RBI in the win for Salem State (22-13), while junior Brett Cahill (Gloucester, Mass.) and sophomore Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, Mass.) each added two hits apiece. First-year Ben Kendrew (Lynnfield, Mass.) earned the win (1-0) on the mound with two scoreless innings of relief, while senior Andrew Guido (Peabody, Mass.) got the final five outs for his fourth save.

Babson (22-17) received three hits from senior captain Conor Kortmann (Manalapan, N.J.), as well as two hits apiece from senior captain Trevor Boyce (Canton, Mass.) and senior John Botelho (Tempe, Ariz.). Sophomore Nick Malatos (Milton, Mass.) took the loss (1-2) despite facing just two batters in relief. The Salem State comeback spoiled a fantastic start by Babson junior Derek Richards (Framingham, Mass.), who scattered eight hits over six innings, allowing just one run and striking out three in the no-decision.

After Richards recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the top of the second, Babson grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning when Kortmann led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout by sophomore Sean MacPhee (Framingham, Mass.), and scored on a wild pitch.

It remained a 1-0 affair until the top of the sixth, when Cahill singled to left with one out and Fecteau followed with a double down the rightfield line. Junior Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, Mass.) then grounded out to short, allowing Cahill to scamper home with the game-tying run.

The Beavers appeared to take control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, beginning when Kortmann led off with a single to center and later advanced to third on back-to-back wild pitches. After a walk to junior Brendan Collins (Abington, Mass.) chased reliever Shawn Hull (Gloucester, Mass.), sophomore Dillon Gozalez (Beverly, Mass.) greeted first-year Matt Abrain (Northbridge, Mass.) with a RBI-single to right. Botelho then drove in another with a double down the line in right, and, after another free pass loaded the bases, Boyce laced a two-run single to right center to give the hosts a 5-1 advantage.

Salem State turned things around with a huge eighth inning, as the Vikings scored six times on five hits to turn a two-run deficit into a 7-5 lead. Junior Ethan Trowt (Beverly, Mass.) drove in the first with a double to right center that scored Fecteau, who had singled to start the inning, and Beliveu followed with an RBI-single to left to make it 5-3. A sacrifice fly by senior Kevin Salines (Melrose, Mass.) later in the frame made it a one-run contest, and two batters later, Cahill put Salem State in front with a two-run single to center. Fecteau capped the rally with his second hit of the inning and fifth of the game - a single through the left side that made it 7-5.

Babson threatened in each of the final two innings, but McElroy threw out a runner at the plate on a would-be sacrifice fly to end the eighth and Guido escaped a two-on-and-two-out jam in the ninth as the Vikings completed the 7-5 comeback win.

With their non-conference schedule now finished, the Beavers will look to extend their season when they resume NEWMAC Tournament play at Wheaton College this weekend. Third-seeded Babson will take on second-seeded MIT on Saturday at noon, with the winner needing to defeat top-seeded Wheaton twice in order to claim the league championship.