Box Score CHARLESTON, W. Va. (April 26, 2018) – The Salem University Tigers baseball team splits its doubleheader against the University of Charleston Golden Eagles on the road.

Game 1 – Salem 5, Charleston 3

The Salem University Tigers put together a three-run fifth inning and got an impressive performance from Logan Persse out of the bullpen to take the first game against Charleston.

Charleston struck first in the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff home run from Jesse Elliott. They added a second run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly RBI from Hathaway, scoring Morello, who reached on a walk and advanced two bases on a steal and a wild pitch.

Salem tied the game 2-2 in the fifth inning, getting back-to-back RBIs from James Cramer and Joshua LaPrest, scoring Noah Suarez—who led the inning off with a single to left field—and Cramer.

Charleston retook the lead in the bottom of the inning when Case hit the first batter and an error put a second runner on, setting up Ryan Hunt's RBI single to left field. 

Salem got two quick outs in the fifth inning. Dillon Champagne flied out to left field and Thirus Jones, after starting the inning with a double, was caught stealing third after Dylan Frawley reached on a walk. The Tigers rallied from there, scoring Frawley on a single from Tyler Ault to left center.

Suarez singled to right field, advancing on a throwing error, which scored Ault. Tyler D'Alessandro scored Suarez with a single to center field.

Persse entered the game for starter Brendan Case in the bottom of the inning, finishing the final three innings; shutting down Charleston by allowing just one hit.

D'Alessandro led Salem with three hits in four at-bats and a RBI. Suarez was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Cramer was 1-for-2 with a run, RBI, and two walks. Ault and LaPrest had a RBI each.

Game 2 – Charleston 9, Salem 5

An ill-timed error extended a backbreaking fifth inning for Salem, giving up six runs (four unearned) on eight hits to fall 9-5 in the second game of the doubleheader.

Salem started the game with three runs in the top of the first, getting three consecutive RBIs from the 4-5-6 spots in the lineup. Charleston responded immediately with a walk, a RBI-double, and a sacrifice fly RBI from Morello to score Hunt. 

Both teams exchanged a run in the third with Salem carrying a 4-3 lead going into the fifth.

Ault hit a RBI single with two outs and bases loaded in the fifth, scoring Najay King before Champagne was thrown out at home to end the top of the fifth.

After a leadoff single, Salem committed an error on a bunt, allowing another runner to reach. Three runs scored—on a sacrifice fly and two RBI singles—before Salem picked up its second out, throwing a runner out on a steal attempt at third. Charleston scored three more runs after for the 9-5 win.

Suarez, LaPrest, King, and Ault each had two hits for Salem, with LaPrest, King, Ault, Dalton Robison, and Champagne recording a RBI.

Carlos Pena started for Salem, pitching four innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits with three walks.  Champagne struggled, giving up six runs (two earned) on seven hits.

Kyle Sears and Jordan Wagner closed the game, holding Charleston scoreless. 

After splitting the doubleheader,  Salem is 18-16-1 on the season and 12-11-1 on the road.