PARKERSBURG, WV - Despite getting a pair of solo home runs from sophomore Jimmy Cramer in the opening-game of a twin bill against Ohio Valley University, the Fighting Scots would score three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 6-3 victory. The Tigers started the second game by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning but would see the Scots score 12 runs in innings four through six en route to a 16-10 victory on Sunday afternoon (Mar. 19) in NCAA Div. II baseball action.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Salem Int'l 3, Ohio Valley University 6
         Salem Int'l 10, Ohio Valley University 16
Records: Salem Int'l (3-21), Ohio Valley University (8-10)
Location: Bennett Stump Field | Parkersburg, West Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED:

•  Game One
  • Senior Abel Hernandez made his seventh start of the season for SIU in game one against the Fighting Scots.
  • Ohio Valley would get onto the scoreboard first in the contest, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning against Hernandez.
  • The Tigers answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to even the score. Cramer hit his first home run of the season to left field off of OVU starter Ryan Valentine.
  • Senior Matthew Flores then followed with an RBI single to left field to score fellow senior Trent Dalton.
  • Hernandez kept the Scots' bats quiet in both the third and fourth innings as the score stayed tied 2-2.
  • Cramer went yard for the second time in the game against Valentine to give SIU a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning.
  • OVU stormed right back in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single against sophmore reliever Jordan Wagner to knot the game 3-3.
  • SIU went quiet at the plate in the top of the sixth inning as the Tigers looked to take a late lead.
  • A costly two-out error allowed the Fighting Scots to take a 5-3 lead after a ball eluded Dalton at second base. OVU tacked-on another run to up its lead to 6-3.
  • OVU relief pitcher Nicholas Shower closed the door on the Tigers in the top of the sixth inning to preserve the 6-3 victory.
  • Cramer finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate for SIU with two RBI's and two runs scored. Senior Donato Gallano went 2-for-4 at the plate, while junior Ethan Turner went 2-for-3.
  • Hernandez took the no-decision for SIU, allowing two runs on four hits over four innings of work. He issued five walks while fanning three batters.
  • Wagner (1-4) was handed with the tough luck loss, allowing four unearned runs on four hits in two innings of work.
  • Valentine took a no-decision for the Fighting Scots after tossing 5.2 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking three batters and fanning four batters.
  • Shower (2-2) held the Tigers scoreless in his 1.1 innings of work.
•  Game Two
  • The Tigers turned to some quick offense against the Fighting Scots in game two, scoring three-times in the first inning.
  • Sophomore Isaiah Arroyo looked to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead with a homer to left-center, but would have it turned into a ground-rule double after further discussion by the umpires.
  • Following Arroyo's RBI double, senior Sean Deviney would plate both Arroyo and Gallano with his single into left-center, making it 3-0.
  • OVU responded by scoring three runs of its own in the bottom portion of the inning against SIU sophomore Albert Cartenuto.
  • The Scots took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the second inning after an error by the Tigers.
  • SIU knotted the game 4-4 in the top of the third inning as Deviney tallied his third-RBI of the contest with a single through the right side of the infield.
  • A three-run fourth would open up the game for Ohio Valley as the Scots capped-off the inning with a two-run home run to make it 7-4.
  • The runs would continue to come for the Scots, who plated five in the bottom of the fifth inning and four more in the sixth inning to stretch their lead to 16-4.
  • SIU did have a seventh inning rally in them, scoring six-times and having the bases loaded on several occasions.
  • Gallano started the scoring in the frame with his RBI single up the middle that plated Cramer.
  • Arroyo, Hernandez, and Cramer also recorded RBI base knocks in the frame to go along with a pair of bases-loaded walks to Dalton and junior Zach Mullinax.
  • The Tiger rally would end as Flores struck out to end the ballgame.
  • Cartenuto (0-4) was handed with the loss after exiting the game through four innings of work. He allowed seven runs on seven hits, while walking three batters and fanning three.
  • SIU used a total of five pitchers in the second game with sophomore Michael Rupp and Steven Craddock each tossing two thirds of an inning.
  • Cramer finished the game 2-for-5 at the plate for the Tigers with one RBI and one run scored, while Arroyo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
  • Deviney went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, while freshman shortstop Tyler Ault finished 2-for-4 at the dish.

UP NEXT:

The Tigers are scheduled to play against Glenville State in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 22) beginning at 3 p.m. in Glenville, West Virginia. SIU returns home to host Fairmont State the next day at Frank Loria Memorial Field. First pitch for the single nine-inning game is set for 4 p.m.