NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Junior right-hander Andrew Levy pitched a two-hit complete game and sophomore Joey Jones went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as the second-seeded Salisbury University baseball team defeated fifth-seeded Lynchburg College, 7-2, in a first-round game in the NCAA Newport News Regional at Captains Park on Wednesday.
Levy (8-1) allowed just the two runs and two hits in the second inning and struck out three and walked three in the win. Kyle Hayman was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
The victory moves SU (32-7) into a second-round matchup with the winner of the game between third-seed Shenandoah University and No. 4 Rowan University Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
"I thought our kids played well," said Salisbury Head Coach Doug Fleetwood. "Andy pitched well, he got stronger as he went. He kind of stumbled there a little bit early and I told the guys I think he figured out he was a little better than they were today."
The Sea Gulls took the lead for good with a four-run second inning. Hayman led off the frame with a double to right-center field and Johnny Schiotis followed with a single up the middle. Nick Gentry reached on a fielder's choice to third base to load the bases before Lynchburg righty Robert Garrett (8-1) hit Ken O'Neill, forcing in a run to knot the game, 2-2. Root hit a bouncer to third that Dan Savage threw wildly into Root, allowing both Gentry and Schiotis to score for a 4-2 lead. Jones added a sacrifice fly later in the inning for a three-run lead.
Garrett escaped the frame but only went 3 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs on six hits while fanning two and walking two.
Salisbury's big inning helped it overcome a 2-1 Lynchburg (34-9) lead after one-and-a-half innings.
With runners on first and third, in the top of the second, Dustin Arrowood singled through the left side, scoring Michael Del Buono to tie the game at 1-1. After a sacrifice bunt by Zach Fitzpatrick, Ashton Paige put the Hornets ahead with a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Savage.
Levy, who threw his team-leading fourth complete game of the season, settled down, after getting the lead back to retire 14 straight from the end of the second inning to one out in the seventh.
Jones tacked on RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings for the final margin.
Salisbury opened the scoring in the top of the first when Quinn Griffith lined a two-out single to right field to score Tyler Bennett for a 1-0 lead. Bennett reached on a fielder's choice to third base and moved up on a walk to Chris Connor.
Lynchburg, which received a 1-for-4 performance with a run scored from Savage, plays regional host and top seed Christopher Newport Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The Captains fell to sixth-seeded Messiah College, 3-1, in the early game on Wednesday.