RALEIGH, NC - Salem International University saw Saint Augustine's University score four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a two-run deficit. The Tigers would hold the last lead in game one, scoring three-times in the top of the seventh inning to rally for a 7-6 victory against the Falcons on Saturday afternoon (March 4) in NCAA Division II men's baseball action. The Falcons used a strong pitching performance in game two to secure a 4-1 victory against the Tigers.

Senior Donato Gallano finished game one 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs batted in and one run scored, while junior Zach Mullinax finished the opening game 1-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and one run scored. Freshman Tyler Ault went 1-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored in the lead-off spot for the Tigers.

SIU and Saint Augustine's will face each other again on Sunday afternoon (March 5) at Optimist Park. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. with the second game slated to start around 3:30 p.m.

Senior Abel Hernandez started game one for SIU and would give the Tigers another solid start and chance to come-away with a victory. SIU gave Hernandez an early 1-0 lead, scoring in the top of the first inning as Gallano scored on an error by Saint Augustine's Corey Brassington. The Tigers seemed poised for a big inning against Falcons starter Marquis Johnson, loading the bases up after the error and a walk. Johnson responded by fanning back-to-back batters to end the top of the inning.

The Falcons answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame against Hernandez. SAU used a pair of Tiger errors to knot the game 1-1, scoring on an RBI-groundout by Alexis Garcia. SIU continued the scoring in the second inning as Gallano sent a single back up the middle to plate senior Josh VanMeter. Leading 2-1, senior Matthew Flores delivered a sacrifice-fly to center field that would allow Ault to score from third to up the Tigers' lead to 3-1.

After seeing the lead trimmed to 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning, the Tigers regained a two-run lead in the top of the fourth inning. Ault started the two-out rally with a walk and would score on an RBI-single from Gallano to make it 4-2.

The bottom of the fifth inning would plague the Tigers as SAU plated four runs on two hits and two errors to take a 6-4 lead in the game. Hernandez and the Tigers would get through the inning, stranding a runner on base after getting a groundout to third base. Holding a two run lead entering the top of the seventh inning, SAU made a call to the bullpen. Chris Ingram took-over on the mound for the Falcons and saw the lead slip-away as Mullinax sent a ball over the fence in left field with two outs to knot the game 6-6. A walk to senior Sean Deviney, followed by a stolen base setup the opportunity for sophomore Jimmy Cramer to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead with his single to left field.

Hernandez exited the game for the Tigers with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gallano moved over from third base to record the final-out for SIU and secure the victory and his first save of the season. Hernandez (2-3) allowed six runs (one earned) on six hits through 6.2 innings of work. He walked four batters and fanned seven after navigating his way through seven Tiger errors in the game.

The second game would have different feel to it for the Tigers as Falcons starter Ricky Rice found himself in control from start to finish. Rice started the game off by fanning each of the first six batters that he faced and seven of the first eight, as a walk to senior Trent Dalton disrupted the streak.

Sophomore Albert Cartenuto got the start in the second game for the Tigers and kept the Falcons off of the scoreboard until the bottom of the third inning. SAU scored both of its runs with two outs in the frame on a triple and a single. Timothy Carter did a majority of the damage for the Falcons, going 3-for-4 at the plate with one triple and three RBIs.

The Falcons tallied two more runs against Cartenuto and the Tigers in the bottom of the fourth inning to up their lead to 4-0. Rice kept things on cruise control until the top of the sixth inning, losing his no-hitter and shutout. Sophomore Ethan Turner kicked the sixth inning off with a double for the Tigers into left field. He would advance to third after a deep fly ball from Ault and later score on a groundout to the shortstop by Gallano.

SIU tried to duplicate its seventh inning rally from game one but wouldn't have the same result the second-time as the Falcons notched the 4-1 victory. Rice fanned 11 batters and walked two in going the distance for Saint Augustine's, while Cartenuto (0-2) was handed with the loss for SIU after allowing four runs on nine hits in five innings of work. Cartenuto walked four batters and fanned one, while sophomore Steven Craddock faced four batters to closeout the game for the Tigers.