NUTTER FORT, West Virginia- After an opening season trip to North Carolina, the Salem Tigers baseball team finally made their home season debut on Sunday at Frank Loria Memorial Field. The Tigers first home series would come against the Shepherd Rams in a four-game series across a two-day stretch. Salem would look to get off to a good start in the home opener. The Tigers were able to take game one of the series, but unfortunately the Shepherd Rams would go on a three-game winning stretch to take the series. 

Salem 2, Shepherd 1

For Game 1, it would be Sam Schmitt getting the start on the mound for the Tigers. Schmitt would get off to an incredible start as he already threw 5 strikeouts through 3 innings. After the 3^rd inning, the game was still scoreless. It would be the Rams who struck first in the top of the 4^th after an error scored their first run giving them the 1-0 edge. In the bottom of the 6^th inning, the Tigers would tie things up at 1 after Aidan McMurdo score on a balk. Moments later, Reese Rinna knocked hit an RBI Single through the right side where Jose Lojo would score the second run of the game. Salem led 2-1 as we headed into the final inning. The Rams had one last chance, but it would be Sam Schmitt who struck out two batters in the 7^th to secure the Tigers victory. Scmitt would get his first victory of the season while adding an impressive 12 strikeouts during the game as well. Salem defeated Shepherd 2-1.

Shepherd 3, Salem 0

For Game 2, Andrew Leginze would get the start for the second game of the Sunday doubleheader. Unfortunately, the Rams bats would come out hot and they grabbed a quick 2-0 lead after the top of the 1^st inning. The Tigers struggled to get the offense going as they were held scoreless through 5 innings. In the 6^th inning, Shepherd hit a sac fly to center field where the Rams would take a 3-0 lead. The Tigers were unable to answer back in the bottom of the 6^th. Salem had one last shot to get back in this one in the bottom of the 7^th, but unfortunately the Tigers failed to do just that. Shepherd took game 2 of the Sunday doubleheader by a 3-0 score.

Shepherd 5, Salem 2

In Game 3, the Tigers were back on action on Monday for third game of the series where pitcher Otho Savage would get the start on the mound. Reese Rinna kicked things off for the Tigers after he hit an RBI single to center field knocking in Luis Angarita for the 1-0 lead. However, the Rams would take the lead after scoring 3 runs in the top of the 3^rd with one of those resulting in a homerun. After 5 innings, Shepherd still maintained a 3-1 lead. During the bottom of the 6^th, Max Atkinson hit a sac fly to center where Hunter Rose would score. The Tigers now just faced a one-point deficit heading into the final inning. However, the Rams would add a couple insurance runs in the top of the 7^th to give them a 5-2 lead. The Tigers got a runner in scoring position during the bottom of the 7th but were unable to capitalize on it. Shepherd defeated Salem 5-2 in Game 3.

Shepherd 6, Salem 3

For Game 4, the Tigers got off to an incredible start when Reese Rinna hit a 2-run homer that score Jose Lojo. Giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead after the 1^st inning. Richie Preston got the start at pitcher for the Tigers. Shepherd was able to strike back an inning later and score on an RBI double. Fortunately, Salem answered back to that one in the bottom of the 3^rd when Aaron Forbes hit an RBI single to center field and Jose Lojo would get the run. The Tigers were able to maintain that 3-1 lead all the way through the 5^th inning. However, the Rams would tie the game back up in the 6^th after a triple and wild pitch led to 2 runs. In the final inning, Shepherd would take the lead after an error when the bases were loaded. A wild pitch would give them another run to give them a 5-3 lead. The Rams would score one more insurance run as they would score on a balk to give them a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 7^th. In the bottom of the 7^th, the Tigers faced a 6-3 deficit and had to have a big inning to get back into this one. Unfortunately, the Tigers were only able to get 1 hit, and the Rams would secure the 6-3 victory.

After a tough home opening series, the Tigers will look to regroup quickly as their next match up occurs on Wednesday February 26^th at Frank Loria Memorial Field at 3 pm. The Tiger opponent will be California University of Pennsylvania.