ETTRICK, Va. (March 5) – The Tigers were dealt three non-conference losses by Virginia State, losing by scores of 3-0, 9-0 and 5-0 Tuesday afternoon at Whaley Colbert Field.
 
The losses drop the Salem International University baseball team to 0-13 overall this season. Meanwhile, the Trojans improve to 7-1 early in their 2015 campaign.
 
Despite striking out a season-high 11, freshman pitcher Dolan Kunkel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Centennial Collegiate) and the Tigers lost 4-0 in the third game of the day against Virginia State.
 
Entering the fifth inning of a scoreless game, the Trojans took advantage of an error to plate four runs and take command of the game. The Tigers finished the day with four hits, but could not string any of them together in the defeat.
 
Kunkel (0-4) took the tough-luck loss on the mound for Salem International. He had his best performance of the spring, allowing four runs (zero earned) on seven hits while striking out 11 Trojans over six innings of work. Kunkel recorded a four-strikeout inning in the sixth inning, after the second batter in the inning reached first on a dropped third strike.
 
The Tigers scattered five hits in the first game, but could not push anyone across the plate in their 3-0 loss. Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, freshman Ty Cole (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) led the frame off with a walk and promptly stole second base. Junior Joe Drago (Albany, Ind./Delta) bumped Cole over to third with a one-out single, but he would not advance any further after the next two batters were retired. Salem International had two other opportunities with runners in scoring position, but was unsuccessful on both chances.
 
Junior Colton Lankford (Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett) took the loss on the mound. Lankford (0-2) allowed three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts in six innings of work.
 
Salem International scattered five hits once again in the second game, but a pair of errors allowed the Trojans to plate five runs in the third inning in the Tigers 9-0 loss. Virginia State put the game out of reach with four insurance runs in the sixth inning to secure the victory.
 
Junior Nicco Lollio (Carleton, Mich./Airport) led the Tigers at the plate with three hits, including a double, on the day. Drago and junior Cody Whitmer (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy) each totaled collected three singles on the afternoon.
 
Salem International is back on the diamond this Saturday, March 7, when they head to Murfreesboro, N.C. to take on Chowan for two non-conference doubleheaders. The teams were originally slated to play a single-game Friday, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, but due to the weather have pushed games back to Saturday and Sunday.