VIENNA, W.Va. (May 6) – Led by a three home run day from junior centerfielder
Tanner Helms (Lake Charles, La./Sam Houston), the Tigers kept their postseason hopes alive with a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Valley, winning 4-1 and 9-3 Friday afternoon.
The Salem International University baseball team improves to 8-37 overall, 4-18 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots fall to 12-35 overall, 6-16 in league play. If the Tigers win both games tomorrow, they would clinch the No. 6 seed in the G-MAC Tournament, by virtue of owning the tie-breaker with Ohio Valley after scoring a 4-1 game one win. Any win by Ohio Valley tomorrow would eliminate Salem International from postseason play this year.
Junior pitcher
Talon Kunkel (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/Centennial Collegiate) kept the Fighting Scots off balance in game one to help the Tigers secure a 4-1 series opening win. He tossed eight innings and limited Ohio Valley to one run (zero earned) on seven hits with a season-high nine strikeouts (121 pitches). Senior
Aaron Alderman (Lakeland, Fla./Lake Gibson) tossed the final inning to close out the game and earn his first save this season.
Helms led the team with three hits, including the eventual winning-run on a solo home run in the fourth inning. Senior second baseman
Jeff Apigo (Federal Way, Wash./Todd Beamer) added his second home run of the season, while Kunkel and junior right fielder
Matthew Flores (King City, Calif./King City) each finished with an RBI apiece.
Helms was the leader again in game two, sending two balls over the fence to help the Tigers earn a 9-3 game two win and help keep the Tigers postseason chances alive. He finished the game with three hits, including two home runs, five RBI and two runs scored. Junior shortstop
Donato Gallano (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/James Campbell) finished with a team-best three hits, while Flores chipped in two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
Senior pitcher
Zack Skipper (Las Vegas, Nev./Faith Lutheran) threw a complete-game, while holding the Fighting Scots to three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts (100 pitches) to earn the win on the mound.
Salem International must win the remaining two games of the series, tomorrow, Saturday May 6 in order to secure a G-MAC Tournament bid. If Ohio Valley wins either game, they will eliminate the Tigers from postseason contention. The first game will begin at 2 p.m.
