NUTTER FORT, WV - A seven-run seventh inning propelled the Fairmont State University Fighting Falcons to a 14-7 victory against the Salem International University Tigers on Thursday afternoon (Mar. 23) at Frank Loria Memorial Field in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. Sophomore catcher Albert Cartenuto finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for SIU.

Sophomore Jimmy Cramer went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in the lead-off spot for the Tigers, while fellow sophomore Isaiah Arroyo finished the game 2-for-4 at the dish for SIU.

The Tigers are set to host West Virginia Wesleyan College in a doubleheader at home on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 29) beginning at 3 p.m. SIU then heads to California (Pa.) on Tuesday, April 4 for a pair of games against the Vulcans.

FSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against senior lefty Abel Hernandez and the Tigers. Fighting Falcons right fielder Ben Myers delivered one of his three hits on the afternoon to score center fielder Austin Norman.

SIU evened the score (1-1) in the home portion of the inning as senior center fielder Matt Flores sent a single back up the middle to score Cramer. Both sides went scoreless in the second inning.

Myers would give the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the third inning with his run-scoring single to right field. With a pair of runners on base, designated hitter Johnny Kesling singled to left center, scoring both runners to make it 4-1.

Trailing 5-1 in the bottom of fifth inning, Cramer laced a double into the left center field gap, allowing senior second baseman Trent Dalton to score from first base on the play.

FSU used a seven-run seventh frame to open the game up in its favor. Second baseman Ted Sova gave the Falcons an 8-2 lead with his triple to right center, plating a pair of teammates. Kesling capped-off his four-RBI game with a two-run home run later in the inning.

Cartenuto scored for the Tigers in the bottom portion of the inning as Flores reached on an error by the shortstop. FSU's Troy Kifer gave the Falcons a 13-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning as he swiped third base and would score on the play as the throw got away from Arroyo at third base.

The Tigers stayed aggressive on the offensive side of the ball, scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth as Cartenuto doubled to left center. The hit scored junior right fielder Zach Mullinax from second base, trimming the FSU lead to 13-4.

A rally for the Tigers would be cut short in the bottom of the ninth inning. Senior left fielder Sean Deviney plated Flores with a single past the third baseman. SIU then added two more runs on an infield single from Cartenuto that would score Mullinax and Deviney, cutting the deficit to 14-7. A groundout to first base would end the contest and the rally for SIU.

Hernandez (2-5) took the loss for the Tigers, allowing eight runs on nine hits through six innings of work. Hernandez fanned six batters and issued seven walks. Sophomore lefty Josh Delaney allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits in his one inning of relief, while senior Donato Gallano tossed the final two frames for SIU after starting the game at third base. Gallano allowed two runs on three hits and fanned four batters.

FSU starter Jack Johnston (3-1) earned the win for the Falcons, tossing five innings of two-run baseball. Johnston scattered four hits and fanned seven batters while walking two. Reliever Luke Wallace had the toughest time on the mound against the Tigers, surrendering three runs on four hits and recording only two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.