Dominic Curole recorded 13 strikeouts and went 4-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and three runs batted as Salem University extended its winning streak to six with a 4-1 victory over Alderson Broaddus University in NCAA Division II baseball Wednesday at Frank Loria Memorial Field. Wednesday's game marked the second consecutive start on the mound in which Curole has homered and struck out at least 10 batters.
 
Salem (7-7) jumped out early as Tyler D'Allesandro drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first and advanced to third on a stolen base and a passed ball. Curole then drove a 3-0 pitch over the fence in right-center field to stake himself to a 2-0 lead.
 
The Tigers had a chance to add to their lead in the fourth when Curole led off with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Adlai Muench drew a two-out walk to give Salem runners on the corners, but Curole was thrown out at the plate on a double-steal attempt.
 
In his next at bat, Curole sent the first pitch high over the right-center field fence with one out in the sixth to extend Salem's lead to 3-0.
 
On the mound, Curole (2-2) struck out five consecutive batters starting in the top of the second inning. Alderson Broaddus leadoff batter Misael Sanchez reached base on a third-strike wild pitch in the third, but was thrown out by Tiger catcher Dalton Robison attempting to steal second to end the inning.
 
Through seven innings, Curole limited Alderson Broaddus to a first-inning single up the middle and a seventh-inning infield single. He allowed only three balls hit into the outfield.
 
Alderson Broaddus (1-8) spoiled Curole's shutout bid in the top of the eighth. Trent Humphreys doubled with one out and came home on Vincenzo Rauso's two-out single to pull the Battlers within 3-1. After Curole left the mound to an ovation from the crowd, reliever Jason Gomez ended the inning on a force out at second. Tiger shortstop Tyler Ault made a diving stop behind the bag and backhanded the ball to second baseman AJ Marini for the force.
 
Salem got the run back in the bottom of the eighth as D'Alessandro led off with a single to center and Curole followed with a double down the right field line. After Robison was intentionally walked, a drawn-in infield got a force out at the plate. Jerrod Johnmeyer, making his first plate appearance of the season, lofted a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to left to bring home Curole.
 
Carson Ellis started the ninth on the mound and was greeted by singles by the Battlers' Nos. 4 and 5 batters, Cameron Sheets and Taylor Cook. But Ellis struck out the next three batters to secure the win and earn his first save of the season.
 
Curole, who threw 108 pitches in 7 2/3 innings, walked none and allowed only four hits. Including Sunday's shutout against Mid-Atlantic Christian University, Tiger pitchers have limited opponents to only three runs (one unearned) in the last 26 innings for a 0.69 earned run average.
 
Wednesday's contest was the first of five home games this week for the Tigers. Salem plays host to Ohio Valley in a single game Friday at 6 p.m. and then entertain Kutztown University for a three-game series Saturday and Sunday.