FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The top-ranked Salisbury University baseball team picked up a pair of Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) wins on the road Sunday as they defeated University of Mary Washington 3-1 in 13 innings and 5-0 in seven innings. Salisbury (14-1, 5-1 CAC) completes the three-game season sweep of the Eagles (3-6, 0-6 CAC), who remain winless in conference after facing SU and St. Mary’s (Md.) College.
In the first game, Salisbury tried to jump out to an early lead in the first inning as senior second baseman Randy Boyle (two hits) lined a double down the right field line off Eagle pitcher Wes Hayden (10 innings pitched) with just one out. Boyle moved to third base on a fly out by junior first baseman Mike Celenza. Hayden got out of the jam when he struck out senior Cody Collins (two hits). The Sea Gulls scored the first run of the game in the top of the second after senior center fielder Jordan Crystal doubled, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore third baseman Brian Green.
In the fourth inning, the Eagles had a chance to take the lead in the game but great Sea Gull defense ended the chance for UMW. Eagle batters Seamus Bergen and Eric Rehbein singled off Sea Gull starting pitcher Chad Wolfe (six innings). The two runners advanced to second and third base, respectively, on a throwing error. Bergen scored moments later thanks to a sacrifice fly by first baseman Will Wright to left field as Rehbein advanced to third. UMW designated hitter David Noack then flew out to center field for the second out of the inning. Rehbein tagged from third base but was thrown out at the plate by Crystal as catcher Ryan Smith applied the tag as the teams remained tied at 1-1.
The game went into extra innings after the completion of the seventh inning as conference doubleheader games are slated for only seven innings.
Mary Washington had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Eagles had runners on second and third base with one out. Sophomore pitcher Dustin Herbert (3-0) came into the game in relief of freshman Bill Morton to get the final two outs of the inning and get out of the jam.
Salisbury ended the stalemate in the 13th inning as the Sea Gulls scored two runs. Sophomore shortstop Will Evans singled to left field then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Boyle. Celenza knocked a single up the middle to put Evans on third base. Smith (2-for-5, one RBI) singled to center score the eventual game-winning run in Evans as Celenza advanced to third. Collins followed with a single to right field which plated Celenza and give SU a key insurance run.
Herbert recorded two quick outs in the bottom half of the inning before the Eagles rallied to load the bases. The Sea Gulls out of the inning and recorded the victory once Rehbein grounded out to second base.
The second game of the doubleheader went a lot smoother for the Gulls. SU had a big third inning as the maroon and gold pushed across three runs to take a 3-0 lead. The Gulls started the inning off with single by Green (2-for-3, two runs), who advanced to second on a sac bunt by Evans. Andrew Miller reached on an error which advanced Green. Miller then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position for Salisbury. Boyle (2-for-3, two runs) forced a walk to load the bases. Celenza followed and delivered a big two-run single to right field to score SU’s first two runs of the game. Smith scored Boyle moments later on a sacrifice fly.
SU tacked on another run in the fourth and seventh innings to seal the shutout.
Salisbury got a solid pitching performance from sophomore Kyle Judson (4-0) as he went the distance where he surrendered four hits, one walk and struck out one. Zach Hendrix (0-2) suffered the loss for the Eagles as he pitched all seven innings where he allowed nine hits and three earned runs.
The Sea Gulls remain in conference play this week as SU travels to York (Pa.) College on Wednesday, March 11, for a single-game against the Spartans at 3:30 p.m. The Gulls will then host York on Saturday, March 14, in a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.
