NUTTER FORT, WV - A five-run lead in game one and a three-run lead in game two wouldn't be enough for the Salem International University Tigers on Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 26) as SIU dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Glenville State College, 10-7 and 5-3, at Frank Loria Memorial Field. The Pioneers would score the final eight runs in game one and the last three runs in game two to snag victory from the Tigers.

Senior Donato Gallano finished the day 4-for-6 at the plate with one run scored and one run batted in for the Tigers, while sophomore Albert Cartenuto hit a two-run home run in game one for SIU. Sophomore Isaiah Arroyo crushed a three-run home run in game two for the Tigers.

The Tigers will host Bluefield State College on Saturday night (Apr. 29) at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. SIU will honor its 2017 Senior Class prior to the start of the doubleheader.

Arroyo made his first start in a Tigers uniform in game one as he allowed a run in the top of the first inning but would settle in after his offense knotted the score 1-1 in the bottom of the frame.

Cartenuto would give the Tigers a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning with his third home run of the season over the left center field wall. The score would hold until the Tigers added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Tyler Ault plated sophomore Ethan Turner with a sacrifice fly to deep left field.

Leading 4-2, SIU put some room between itself and Glenville with a three-run bottom of the fifth inning. Senior Sean Deviney made it 5-2 with his single to left center and would load the bases for SIU. The Tigers then made it 6-2 as Steven Craddock picked-up an RBI with a ground-out to the shortstop. SIU would catch a little bit of luck with two outs in the frame as Deviney scored from third base while Turner got himself caught in a run-down between first and second. The Pioneers recorded the out at first base after Deviney crossed the plate to make it 7-2.

Glenville mounted its rally in the top of the sixth inning against SIU reliever Jordan Wagner. The Pioneers gained momentum against Wagner after he recorded the final two outs of the fifth inning after Arroyo exited the contest. The Pioneers trimmed the deficit to 7-6 after SIU had trouble handling a pop-up behind the pitcher's mound with two outs in the inning. The error allowed the Pioneers to score a run and make it a one-run game.

The Pioneers quickly knotted the game 7-7 in the top of the seventh inning against reliever Josh Delaney for the Tigers. A single to right field completed the rally for Glenville, who followed with another run-scoring single to take an 8-7 lead. Glenville then added two-more runs against Gallano top cap its scoring and take a 10-7 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Salem's bats would go silent over the final two innings of play against the Glenville bullpen. SIU mustered just one-hit in the sixth and seventh inning. Gallano and Jimmy Cramer both finished with two hits a piece in the game for SIU. Delaney was handed with the loss in game one for SIU.

In game two, Arroyo provided the SIU offense with some instant momentum as his three-run home run gave the Tigers an early 3-0 lead. The Pioneers answered with two runs in the top of the second inning against Cartenuto. The Tigers had their chances to extend the 3-2 lead but would see the Pioneers get out of jam after jam. 

Glenville continued its grind by tying the score, 3-3, in the top of the fourth inning. Cartenuto started the top of the fifth inning but would only face two batters in the frame before yielding way to Josh VanMeter. The Pioneers would score a pair of runs against VanMeter to break the tie and take a 5-3 lead. Both of the runs would be charged to Cartenuto, closing his book in the game.

VanMeter gave the Tigers a chance to rally late in the contest, holding the Pioneers off of the scoreboard over the last two innings of action. SIU had no answer for the Glenville bullpen as two hits would be all that the Pioneers allowed en route to the 5-3 victory. The Tigers stranded nine runners on base in the second game, while Glenville stranded seven runners on base.