ORANGEBURG, S.C. –The Salem University baseball team dropped the first game of a three-game weekend series 17-4 to Claflin, Friday night. 
 
With the loss, Salem falls to 0-4, while Claflin improves to 3-2. 
 
Salem finished the game with four runs scored on five hits in 33 at-bats, while Claflin notched 17 runs scored with 13 hits in 36 at-bats.
 
Junior Dalton Robison recorded his first home run of the year with two RBI and two hits, while junior Walker Dodero also notched his first home run to go along with two RBI and one hit.
 
Junior Carson Ellis is credited with the loss (0-2) as he started on the mound for the Tigers, he finished with eight hits allowed and 10 earned runs with five strikeouts in five innings pitched. 
 
The Tigers tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second inning as Robison blasted a homer over the left field fence bringing home senior Thirus Jones. 
 
Claflin then ensued with 11 unanswered runs as it led Salem 13-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
In the top of the sixth, Dodero homered as senior Jimmy Cramer crossed home to cut the lead to 13-4. 
 
Claflin added four more runs and the lead pushed to 17-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Neither team scored in the final two innings. 
 
The Tigers are back in action tomorrow at Claflin with the first pitch at 2:00 p.m.