HICKORY, N.C. (Feb. 28) – Led by a two-RBI effort by senior catcher Rahul Badve (Mississauga, Ontario/Woodlands Secondary) and junior Sean Deviney (Lehigh Acres, Fla./Riverdale), the Tigers picked up a 7-6 win over Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday afternoon.

Prior to winning on Sunday, the Salem International University baseball team was sweep in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27 by scores of 14-3 and 6-2 by the Bears (12-3).

The Tigers (2-9) scored three times in the first inning on Sunday to jump out in front. Junior outfielder Matthew Flores (King City, Calif./King City) hit a sacrifice fly, and Badve doubled in a run and scored on a balk to give Salem International the early lead.

Lenior-Rhyne countered with runs in the first and second innings, but another three run inning in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. Badve was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Deviney followed with a single that scored a pair to rebuild the Tiger lead.

Senior third baseman Santino Alteri (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Central) drove in what would be the eventual game-winning run in the sixth to extend the Salem International lead to 7-2.

Lenoir-Rhyne chipped away at the Tiger lead with runs in the sixth and seventh to pull within three and gave Salem International a scare in the final frame.

The Bears loaded the bases with one out. After a fly out for the second out, Lenoir-Rhyne plated two runs on a double and had the tying and winning runs in scoring position. Sophomore pitcher Kevin Ortiz (Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek) remained composed and clinched the win with a strikeout of the the next batter to give the Tigers their second win this season.

Senior pitcher Zack Skipper (Las Vegas, Nev./Faith Lutheran) earned his first win at Salem International. Skipper (1-3) limited the Bears to four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over 7.0 innings of work. Ortiz pitched the final two innings to earn his first career save.

Alteri and junior outfielder Tanner Helms (Lake Charles, La./Sam Houston) each tallied three hits in the win to lead the team at the plate.

The Tigers opened the series with Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday with a 14-3 loss.

The Bears established an 11-1 lead through five innings to pull away for the win.

Badve and senior second baseman Jeff Apigo (Federal Way, Wash./Todd Beamer) each tallied an RBI in the game.

Senior pitcher Colton Lankford (Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett) took the loss. Lankford (0-2) allowed 11 runs (six earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work.

Lenoir-Rhyne followed its win in game one with a 6-2 victory over the Tigers in the nightcap.

The Bears opened game two with a three-run first inning to take the lead early. After a sacrifice fly in the third by senior Joe Drago (Albany, Ind./Delta) cut the lead to 3-1, Lenoir-Rhyne added two in the bottom of the third and one in the fourth to take a 6-1 advantage.

Badve added a RBI-single in the seventh inning, but the Tigers did not get any closer in the game.

Junior Talon Kunkel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Centennial Collegiate), the reigning Great Midwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, took the loss. Kunkel (1-2) allowed six runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts over 5.0 innings on the mound.

Flores led the Tigers at the dish with three of the team's six hits in the game.

Salem International returns to North Carolina on Saturday, March 5 when they take on Chowan for the first of three games at 12 p.m.