MURFREESBORO, N.C. (March 6) – The Tigers surrendered late leads twice in a three-game sweep at the hands of Chowan in non-conference play Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Hawks won the games by scores of 5-4, 3-0 and 10-9.
 
The Salem International University baseball team falls to 2-12 overall, while Chowan improves to 6-10 this season.
 
The Tigers took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning in game one, before a three-run home run by the Hawks gave the hosts a 5-4 win to open the series.
 
Salem International connected for four doubles in the contest, with senior Santino Alteri (Watertown, N.Y./Immaculate Heart Central), senior Rahul Badve (Mississauga, Ontario/Woodlands Secondary) and junior Sean Deviney (Lehigh Acres, Fla./Riverdale) each finishing with multiple hits.
 
Sophomore Kevin Ortiz (Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek) was charged with the loss out of the bullpen. Ortiz (1-1) allowed three runs on two hits with one strikeout in one inning of work. Junior Talon Kunkel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Centennial Collegiate) started the first five innings and limited the Hawks to two runs on five hits with five strikeouts, but received a no-decision.
 
Chowan used a dominant performance on the mound to take game two 3-0, while holding the Tigers to two hits with eight strikeouts.
 
The Hawks scored runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to secure the lead. Salem International left nine runners on, after drawing eight walks to go with its two hits.  In the seventh inning, the Tigers walked the bases loaded with two outs, but a fly out with the go-ahead run at the plate ended the threat.
 
Senior Colton Lankford (Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett) was saddled with the loss. Lankford (0-3) allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
 
The Tigers took a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning, but a pair of two-run innings to close out the game gave Chowan a walk-off win to complete the sweep.
 
Deviney led Salem International with two hits, including a triple, two RBI and two runs scored, while senior Joe Drago (Albany, Ind./Delta) tallied two hits, an RBI, a stolen base and three runs scored.
 
Senior C.J. Atherton (Newark, Ohio/Mount Vernon) took the loss in relief. He allowed two runs on five hits in one-plus innings of work.
 
Chowan was charged with seven errors in the game, while Salem International finished with three of its own.
 
The Tigers continue with non-conference play when they head to Charleston, West Virginia to take on Charleston for a single nine inning game on March 13 at Appalachian Power Park. The start time is TBD.