Salem University had the go-ahead run at the plate in the top of the seventh, but the rally came up short as the Tigers fell to King University 5-2 in game two of an NCAA Division II baseball doubleheader Saturday at Bristol, Tenn.
 
In the opener, the Tigers cut an early 10-run deficit down to three before falling to the Tornado 12-9. Tyler D'Alessandro had three hits and two runs batted in for Salem.
 
After spotting King two runs in the first inning in the nightcap, Salem (0-4) got on the scoreboard in the top of the second as Dalton Robison drew a leadoff walk and stole second with one out. Kasey Buchanan followed with a single down the left field line to drive in Robison.
 
King (7-3) added a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Tigers struck back in the top of the sixth. Robison walked on four pitches to lead off the inning, advanced to third on Dominic Curole's single down the right field line and scored on a fielder's choice grounder to third to pull Salem within 3-2.
 
The Tornado used two walks and two rbi-singles in the bottom of the sixth to stretch their lead to three runs in the scheduled seven-inning contest.
 
Salem had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the seventh as Noah Suarez and D'Alessandro drew walks and Robison was hit by a pitch. But King closer Erik Calderon, Jr., recorded his third strikeout of the inning to end the Tigers' threat.
 
In game one, King scored five runs in the first and third innings to jump out to a 10-0 lead. Parker Lenivy got Salem on the scoreboard with a three-run double in the top of the fourth. Consecutive bases-loaded walks to Adlai Muench, Lenivy and Suarez highlighted a four-run fifth inning as the Tigers closed the gap to 10-7.
 
After King added two runs in the bottom of the sixth, Salem answered with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Suarez and Tyler Ault drew walks and advanced on a wild pitch, and both runners scored on D'Allesandro's single. But that was as close as the Tigers would get.
 
Salem and King complete their three-game series with a single nine-inning game Sunday at noon.