NUTTER FORT, WV - The Salem International University baseball team held a pair of early leads against Malone University on Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 11) but dropped both ends of a twin bill against the Pioneers after Malone rallied late in both games. The Pioneers were victorious in game one 8-5 in nine innings and 11-6 in game two. Freshman shortstop Tyler Ault finished the day 6-for-10 at the plate with three runs batted in and three runs scored for SIU.

The Tigers head to Vienna, West Virginia on Friday (Apr. 14) and Saturday (Apr. 15) for a four-game series against Ohio Valley University. The Tigers and Fighting Scots are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. SIU will stay on the road as its next home games won't be until the end of the month as the Tigers welcome in Glenville State and Bluefield State for a pair of doubleheaders.

Malone quickly took a lead in game one against the Tigers and sophomore starter Josh VanMeter. The Pioneers scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. SIU trimmed the lead in-half in the bottom portion of the frame. Senior Donato Gallano reached on a fielder's choice as the Pioneers looked to turn a double play. Ault would score on the play and make it 2-1.

The Tigers took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Ault provided a jolt of energy for SIU with his single into left center that plated a pair of runs.

Malone jumped back on top in the third inning against VanMeter and the Tigers. A sacrifice fly to left field would knot the score 3-3 and be followed by a run-scoring single to right field that made it 4-3.

The score would hold until the Tigers were able to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior Matt Flores took advantage of a 3-1 pitch and laced a single to right field, scoring Ault.

Malone rallied against SIU pitching in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-4 lead. Senior reliever Abel Hernandez saw the Pioneers score an unearned run to take the lead as Zach Mottice scored after a throw from senior first baseman Sean Deviney went down the left field line.

SIU used a rally of its own in the home-half of the inning to send the game into extra innings. Flores kept the inning alive for the Tigers as Malone looked to turn another double play. The Pioneers would only get one out on the play as an error allowed sophomore Ethan Turner to score and knot the game 5-5.

The Pioneers took the final lead of the contest in the top of the ninth inning, scoring three runs against the Tigers. Gallano worked the top of the frame for SIU after moving over from third base to take over for Hernandez. The Tigers couldn't answer the three-run frame in the bottom of the inning, dropping game one 8-5.

In game two, the Pioneers scored first again and would take the early momentum. Malone plated one run against sophomore starter Jordan Wagner.

The Tigers would gain the momentum right back in the home portion of the inning. Senior Trent Dalton gave SIU a 2-1 lead as he reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Ault and sophomore Jimmy Cramer to score.

A two-run top of the third inning gave the Pioneers a 3-2 lead as a single back up the middle plated runners from second and third for Malone.

Wagner looked to limit the damage against himself in the top of the fourth inning as Malone tagged him for four runs to up its lead to 7-2. Wagner escaped the frame without any further damage and gave his offense a chance to get back to work.

The Pioneers chased Wagner from the game with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Malone plated a single run, making it 8-2 before sophomore Michael Rupp entered the game for SIU. Rupp needed just one pitch to end the frame.

SIU rallied for four runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth to trim the deficit to 8-6. The Tigers used three consecutive singles from Deviney, Turner, and Ault to make it 8-5. Cramer followed by reaching on a fielder's choice to third base that allowed Deviney to score.

Malone put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning as the Pioneers struck for three runs against Rupp and sophomore reliever Albert Cartenuto.

A bases-loaded situation for the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh inning put the Pioneers on edge as SIU tallied back-to-back-to-back singles against reliever Tommy Walker. With the bases juiced and one-out, a line-out from Flores followed by a fly out to right field ended the rally with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle.

Malone secured the 11-6 victory and was able to work around the Tigers scoring four runs against reliever Cody Ballay in the bottom of the fifth inning after recording just one out.

Cramer finished the day 4-for-6 at the plate for the Tigers with one run scored, while Dalton and Flores each tallied three-hit performances for SIU.