MURFREESBORO, N.C. (March 7) – The Tigers earned a split with Chowan University, winning 5-3 in game one before falling in the night cap 25-9 Saturday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The split improves the Salem International baseball team to 1-13 overall, while the Hawks move to 7-6 this season.
The Tigers broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning with a pair of runs to earn a 5-3 victory, the team's first win of the season.
Salem International jumped out to an early lead, as junior first baseman
Nicco Lollio (Carleton, Mich./Airport) delivered a two-RBI double in the first inning to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Chowan claimed the lead with runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-2 lead, but the Tigers took advantage of an error in the sixth to even the score. Senior catcher
Manny Dominguez (Bronx, N.Y./Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics) smacked a RBI-triple to left field that scored right fielder
Hunter Williams (Gunter, Texas/Gunter) to tie the game at 3-3.
The Hawks threatened in the bottom half of the sixth inning, placing runners at second and third with one out, but Salem International freshman pitcher
Dolan Kunkel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Centennial Collegiate) retired the next two batters to keep the score tied.
In the top of the seventh, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out before junior center fielder
Joe Drago (Albany, Ind./Delta) drew a RBI-walk to give Salem International a 4-3 lead. Dominguez added an insurance marker with a two-out RBI-single to put the Tigers ahead 5-3 heading into the last frame. Kunkel retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the Tigers first win of the season.
Kunkel (1-4) picked up the win in relief of senior starter
Cam Hall (Fort Erie, Ontario/Lakeshore Catholic). Kunkel toss 2.0 innings and limited the Hawks to zero runs on one hit, while striking out one.
Dominguez led the Tigers at the plate with a three-hit performance. The Bronx, N.Y. native drove in two and scored once to lead Salem International to the victory.
Salem International jumped out to a 5-2 lead in game two, but ultimately could not keep up with the Hawks in the team's 25-9 loss in game two.
After Chowan took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Tigers rallied for five runs in the top of the second with the help of two wild pitches and a passed ball by the Hawks.
Chowan responded with an eight-run frame in the second and added six runs in both the third and fourth innings to pull away for the victory. Salem International chipped away at the deficit with runs in the third, fifth and two in the seventh, but could not keep up with Chowan's offense.
Drago and junior catcher
Rahul Badve (Mississuga, Ontario/Woodlands Secondary) led the Tigers at the plate, as each finished with two hits. Drago and junior
Jeff Apigo (Federal Way, Wash./Todd Beamer) both drove in two runs and stole a base in the loss.
Junior
Charles Atherton (Newark, Ohio/Mount Vernon) was saddled with the loss in game two. Atherton (0-3) allowed eight runs (two earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow, Sunday, March 7 for an afternoon twinbill. The first-pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m.
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