NUTTER FORT, West Virginia - The Tigers took to their home field last Friday to kick off their final series of the regular season, this one against the Falcons from Notre Dame College. 

FRIDAY

Game One

For the final time this year Salem sent out Frankie Gulko to get things underway for the Tigers at Frank Loria Memorial Park. Gulko gave up one run in the game's opening frame before retiring the side. Salem immediately got that run back with a double from Tyler Shinn that scored Mackenzie Wainwright. The Falcons reclaimed the early lead in the second with a solo shot that would be their last run of the day. Salem began the onslaught at the bottom of the second. In the next five innings of play, Salem went on to score eighteen more runs while Gulko gave them six innings of quality pitching. Tommy Downey came in for the top of the seventh and held the Falcons to zero runs scored during his appearance. The Tigers went yard four times in this abridged seven-inning contest with contributions from Aaron Forbes, Adlai Muench, and Mackenzie Wainwright (2). The Tigers also showed incredible discipline at the plate, walking nine times. In the end, it was all Salem with the Tigers coming away with a 19-2 victory.

Game Two

Once again the Tigers wasted no time jumping out in front of Notre Dame. Jaryd Lund took the mound for the Tigers and delivered a complete game shutout that included eight strikeouts and only two free passes issued. Wainwright's bat remained on fire, after going yard twice in the series opener he topped that by hitting three in the afternoon's second contest making it five on the day. This time around Nathan Kuhn was able to knock one out over the fence for another four-bomb game from the Tigers. Salem did the majority of their damage in the fifth inning when they put a ten spot on the Falcons and effectively put the game away. Salem was the beneficiary of some poor pitch control from Notre Dame who plunked a Salem batter eight times including Jose Lojo twice and Brett Ehr three times. Salem's dominating performance in their final home game ended in a resounding win with a score of 22-0. 

Both teams were given Saturday, May 4th off as a travel day before resuming the series in South Euclid, Ohio, and Notre Dame College's home field.

SUNDAY

Game Three

Salem's trend of early leads which has been a theme for the team all season long remained true into their final day of play. After a quiet first two innings where neither team scored Salem opened it up with a four-run third inning with homers from Mackenzie Wainwright and Nathan Kuhn to help build up the Tigers lead. Salem's starter, Sam Schmitt, held the Falcons to just one run which they scored in the bottom of the third before continuing his dominant performance through the remainder of the game. The Tigers weren't able to walk as much as they had been able to on Friday, but they pushed tempo on the base path, swiping three bags on Notre Dame. Salem came away with another win (7-1) to secure the series heading into their final regular season game. 

Game Four

Once again Salem struck first with an RBI single that ended with an out when Nathan Kuhn tried to stretch it into a double and got caught in a pickle. Travis Lavendier got the start for the Tiger's season finale and came through, delivering five innings of four-hit scoreless ball for the Tigers to help them keep their lead. Wainwright continued to add to his impressive season-ending campaign with his sixth home run of the series in the third inning to pad Salem's lead even further and an RBI single in the fifth to put the game away. The Tigers brought in Colby Scheuber for the sixth who was able to get out of the inning with only one run allowed which kept Salem in the driver's seat. One final time Salem looked to Jhayden Raineri to close the door on the competition in the seventh. Raineri came through and delivered on his sixth save of the season to help the Tigers end the year on a high note with a 4-0 sweep of the Falcons in a series Salem outscored their opponent 52-4.