DUE WEST, SC – The Salem International University baseball team took an early 2-0 lead, followed by a 5-3 lead in the top of the second inning before Erskine College erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Flying Fleet would hand the Tigers a 17-7 loss on Friday afternoon (Feb. 10) at Grier Field. The Tigers produced a season-high seven runs and 14 hits with sophomore Steven Craddock finishing the game 4-for-5 at the plate for SIU.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Salem Int'l 7, Erskine College 17
Records: Salem Int'l (0-4), Erskine College (4-2)
Location: Grier Field | Due West, South Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED:

•  Game One
  • Senior right-hander Josh VanMeter took to the mound for the Tigers and was opposed by Erskine's Skyler Henderson.
  • Freshman Tyler Ault started the game off for the Tigers with a single and would later score on a double to center field by Senior Matthew Flores.
  • Leading 1-0, Flores would score from third base as junior Zach Mullinax stole second base for the Tigers.
  • Erskine responded in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead.
  • Chaz Davey started the inning with a solo home run off of VanMeter and later a two-run double from Trevor Heiss would give Erskine the lead.
  • The Tigers stayed hungry, scoring three runs in the top of the second inning to re-take the lead 5-3.
  • Ault would give the Tigers a 4-3 lead with his two-run double to right field, scoring Craddock and senior Trent Dalton.
  • Senior Donato Gallano then plated Ault with a single to right center to give SIU a two-run cushion.
  • The momentum would completely change in the bottom of the third inning after the Flying Fleet plated nine runs on seven hits.
  • Henry Faunce highlighted the inning for Erskine with his three-run home run to right field against SIU sophomore reliever Jordan Wagner.
  • SIU would plate a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning as Craddock and VanMeter would score on a wild pitch and a passed ball.
  • Faunce rounded out the scoring for the Flying Fleet in the bottom of the eighth inning with his second home run of the game.
  • Gallano, sophomore Albert Cartenuto, sophomore Michael Rupp, senior Abel Hernandez, and sophomore Ethan Turner combined to toss five innings of two-run baseball, scattering just three hits.
  • Ian Kimbrell (1-0) earned the win for Erskine, allowing just two runs (one earned) in two innings of work. He scattered three hits and one walk while fanning three batters.
  • VanMeter (0-2) took the loss for the Tigers, allowing six runs - five earned - on six hits in two innings of work and issued three walks.

 STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Ault finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate for SIU with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Gallano recorded a pair of hits for the Tigers while driving in one run.
• Davey finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored for Erskine, while Trevor Wood went 5-of-6 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored. 
• Faunce capped off a 2-for-5 day with a pair of home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored. 
• Chris Rave had a 3-for-3 day at the plate for the Flying Fleet with three runs scored.
• The two teams combined to throw 13 pitchers in the game, with seven Tigers appearing in the contest.

UP NEXT:

The Tigers will wrap up a three-game series with Erskine College tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. with two seven-inning games. Live stats will be available for both games at www.SIUTigerPride.com. SIU then heads to Savannah, Georgia for a four-game set against Armstrong State University on Saturday (Feb. 18) and Sunday (Feb. 19). The first game will start at 11 a.m. both days with the second game to follow around 1 p.m.