Courtesy Salem State Sports Information

Salem State College head baseball coach Ken Perrone, currently in his 27th year at the helm, collected his 600th career victory this afternoon when the Vikings defeated Clark University, 15-0, in a non-conference game played at Worcester, MA.

Perrone, who took over the program in 1983, has complied an overall collegiate career coaching record of 600-335-4. The University of Maine (Orono) graduate and Danvers, MA resident has directed 19 of his SSC teams to postseason tournament appearances, including three NCAA Tournament bids, 13 ECAC New England playoff invitations and three MASCAC championship showings.

Perrone entered the 2009 season No. 35 on the list of the winningest active NCAA Division 3 head baseball coaches with a .645 percentage. His SSC's teams have recorded 20 or more wins in a season 18 times and have produced three 32 or more win seasons. The 1987 Vikings captured the ECAC New England championship while the 1983, 1994 and 2006 teams earned NCAA Tournament berths.

The Vikings (7-9) wasted little time in jumping out to a 6-0 lead over the Cougars of Clark University. SSC plated six second inning runs as the result of sending a dozen batters up to hit. SSC pounded out 13 hits for the game with freshman Chris Cocci (Wakefield, RI) going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and four runs scored; junior Steve Mucci (Walkill, NY) going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored; and sophomore Evan Valcourt (Salisbury) going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Junior Matt Gusdorf (Reston, VA) and senior Ben Garlington (Rochester, MA) each had a hit and scored twice for the winners.

Freshman righty Matt Kerr (East Freetown, MA) recorded his first collegiate mound victory. Kerr allowed just one hit - a fifth inning lead-off single - en route to a nine inning, nine strike out effort. Kerr hit a batter and issued three walks.

SSC's next game will be Wednesday, April 1 when the Vikings host UMass Boston for a 3:00 pm non-conference encounter at the Salem State College Baseball Diamond.