PHILLIPI, W.Va. (April 12) – The Tigers were swept at Alderson Broaddus University over the weekend in at Jack Funk Field. The Battlers won by scores of 14-2, 9-4, 7-2 and 2-0.
 
The losses send the Salem International baseball team to 4-28 overall and 2-14 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play. Meanwhile, Alderson Broaddus improves to 14-2 in the G-MAC, 22-10 overall this season.
 
The Battlers broke open a 5-1 game in the sixth inning of game one with seven runs to take a 14-2 win.
 
The Tigers trailed 3-0 in the fourth inning when junior Nicco Lollio (Carleton, Mich./Airport) drew a two-out walk and classmate Jeff Apigo (Federal Way, Wash./Todd Beamer) drove him in with a double to cut the Battler lead to 3-1.
 
Alderson Broaddus scored two more in the bottom of the inning and plated several runs in the sixth to take command of the game.
 
Salem International loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning and scored on a RBI single by sophomore Trent Dalton (Logan,W.Va./Logan), but the next two batters were retired to end the game.
 
Junior Colton Lankford (Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett) was tagged with the loss in game one. Lankford (1-5) allowed five runs on five hits over 5.0 innings (97 pitches). The team's strikeout leader only finished with one and walked four in the loss.
 
Lollio, senior Anthony Bariso (Tarpon Springs, Fla./Tarpon Springs), and junior Rahul Badve (Mississauga, Ontario/Woodlands Secondary) each finished with two hits apiece in the game one loss.
 
The Tigers held the lead through the second inning of game two, but seven-unanswered runs by the Battlers propelled the host to a 9-4 win to wrap up Saturday evening.
 
Salem International trailed 1-0 in the second inning when junior Joe Drago (Albany, Ind./Delta) followed a pair of two-out singles with a RBI double to tie the game. Junior Hunter Williams (Gunter, Texas/Gunter) followed suit with a RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
 
The Tigers added to their lead in the third inning with three singles, including a RBI base hit by Bariso to extend the Salem International lead to two runs.
 
The Battlers reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning with three runs and pushed their lead to 8-3 with four more in the fourth inning to take control of the game. Lollio connected on a solo home run in the fifth inning to trim the deficit to 8-4, but Salem International could not plate any more runners in the game.
 
Bariso (0-2) was charged with the loss after he allowed eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts.
 
Lollio had a fine performance at the dish, finishing 4-for-4 with a home run and three singles. Williams and Bariso each finished with two hits apiece in the loss.
 
Alderson Broaddus picked up where they left off on Sunday, earning a 7-2 win in game one of the twinbill.
 
The Battlers held a 6-0 lead before a RBI single by Apigo in the fourth inning broke the Tigers onto the scoreboard. Bariso took advantage of an error to reach base and advanced to third on two wild pitches before scoring on the Apigo base hit.
 
Alderson Broaddus pushed its lead back to six and held the Tigers hitless over the next two innings. Badve connected on a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning, but Salem International did not inch any closer in the 7-2 loss.
 
Senior Cam Hall (Fort Erie, Ontario/Lakeshore Catholic) took the loss on the mound. Hall (1-3) gave up seven runs (two earned) on 12 hits and struck out three with no walks over 6.0 innings of work.
 
In the final game of the series, the Tigers received a valiant effort on the mound from freshman Dolan Kunkel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Centennial Collegiate), but could not provide any run support in a 2-0 loss.
 
Salem International had runners in scoring position in four different innings, but failed to produce any offense in support of Kunkel. Alderson Broaddus pitcher Koby Overstreet finished with 10 strikeouts to pick up the win for the Battlers, who tallied a two-out two-run double in the sixth inning to propel them to victory.
 
Kunkel (1-6) took the loss after allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and four walks in 6.0 innings of work. Two of his four walks issued occurred in the run scoring sixth for the Battlers.
 
Drago led the Tigers at the plate with three of the team's seven hits in the loss.
 
Salem International is scheduled to play Tuesday, April 14 when they host California (Pa.) for the team's home opener in a non-conference doubleheader. First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Frank Loria Memorial Field. Live stats for the games will be available here.