SALISBURY, Md. – For the third straight season, the Salisbury University baseball team put forth a strong showing against the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, in exhibition action on Tuesday, falling, 2-1, in front of 2,241 at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
But, aside from being a tremendous opportunity for the Sea Gulls to display their talents against professionals, the night was used to showcase Salisbury athletics.
SU student-athletes were recognized as part of the NCAA's National Student-Athlete Day while seniors Jamey McClendon and Jennifer Houghton threw out ceremonial first pitches in acknowledgement of receiving the 2011-12 SU Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Sophomore center fielder Bill Root collected two of Salisbury's three hits, including a sixth-inning triple to right field and eight Sea Gull pitchers combined to strike out six while allowing just seven hits.
Delmarva, which begins its South Atlantic League season on Thursday at the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists, opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Catcher Wynston Sawyer plated center fielder Glynn Davis with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead.
Salisbury got the run back in the top of the second on a two-out RBI single through the right side from Root off Shorebirds' right-hander Zach Davies. Sophomore second baseman Johnny Schiotis lined a pitch up the middle with one out and moved to second when junior left fielder Evan Graci coaxed a walk. After a strikeout, Root found the hole between first and second to tie the game, 1-1.
With freshman righty Dan Fein on in relief of senior Devin Gardner (one hit, two strikeouts) in the bottom of the third, Delmarva recorded the eventual winning run. John Ruettiger led off the inning being hit by a pitch and stole second prior to a two-out single to center by Shorebirds' designated hitter Gabriel Lino.
Fein got out of the inning, getting Mychal Givens to fly out to center and Salisbury pitchers Matt Beck, Max Shannon, Kyle Hamby and Bill Morton kept Delmarva off the board the rest of the night.
The Sea Gulls had chances to rally for the trying run again but stranded six runners over the final four innings, including the bases loaded in the top of the fourth.
Zach Fowler earned the win for the Shorebirds, retiring the side in order in the third inning. Fein took the loss, surrendering one hit, one run and two walks in his inning of work. Jose Nivar picked up the save, fanning one batter in the seventh.
Ruettiger and Givens each had a pair of hits for Delmarva.
Fourth-ranked Salisbury returns to action, hosting Catholic University of America at the SU Baseball Field on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.