March 4, 2023

No. 1 Salisbury Baseball outduels, then outslugs TCNJ

More news about: Salisbury

Batting

TCNJ
2B: R. Goodall; C. Reeder
3B: none
HR: none
Salisbury
2B: none
3B: none
HR: none
full stats

SALISBURY, Md. – The top-ranked Salisbury University baseball team came out on top in both a pitchers' duel and a sluggers' delight, besting the TCNJ Lions 2-1 and 11-7 in a Saturday doubleheader at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

  • The Sea Gulls got the party started in the bottom of the third inning. Jacob Ference and Scott Cameron strung together back-to-back infield singles, then after a sac bunt from Max Ehrhardt, Cameron Hyder ripped a two-run single through the right side to put SU on top 2-0.
  • The Lions threatened in the top of the fifth, putting men on the corners with two out, but Jimmy Adkins forced Jack Haynes to ground out harmlessly to first to get out of the jam.
  • After two quiet innings against reliever Brandon Epstein, TCNJ staged a rally in the top of the ninth. Zach Weiner led off with a single, then two batters later Chris Reeder doubled to right to put runners on second and third with one out.
  • Brock Hilligoss entered from the bullpen and got Andrew Fernandez to roll into an RBI groundout at second to make it 2-1 with two out. Justin Marcario came up next and bounced one deep into the hole on the left side. Stephen Rice made a backhand stop from short and threw from the outfield grass, nailing Marcario at first by a step for the game's final out.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

  • Cameron Hyder finished 1-for-4 with the only two RBIs of the game for the Sea Gulls.
  • Scott Cameron batted 2-for-3 with a run scored.
  • Jacob Ference went 1-for-3 with a run and also notched two pickoffs at first base from the catcher's position.
  • Jimmy Adkins (2-0) needed just 74 pitches to put up six scoreless innings for his second win of the year, scattering five hits with no walks and one strikeout.
  • Brandon Epstein gave up one run on two hits over 2.1 innings in relief for the hold, while Brock Hilligoss induced two groundballs in the ninth for his first save.

TCNJ GAME NOTES

  • Zach Weiner went 1-for-4 with the Lions' only run of the game.
  • Ryan Goddall and Chris Reeder each doubled for the game's only two extra-base hits.
  • Ben Amon (0-1) was saddled with the hard-luck loss after surrendering two runs on six hits over seven innings. Amon walked none and fanned five on 92 pitches.

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

  • In the top of the second inning, Andrew Fernandez led off with a double and the Lions loaded the bases on a walk and a hit batsman. After a fielder's choice at the plate, Jack Haynes snuck an RBI single through the right side, then Mike Lagravenis powered a two-run double into right field to put TCNJ on top 3-0.
  • Two batters later, Ryan Goddall lifted a flyball into shallow center field that got caught in the wind and fell in for a two-run double, then Chris Reeder split the right-center gap for an RBI two-sacker and Fernandez singled home another to make it 7-0.
  • The Sea Gulls began chipping away immediately in the home second. Zach Geesaman took a pitch off the arm with one out, then Scott Cameron shot a double into the left-center gap to bring Geesaman around to score. Two batters later Cameron Hyder pulled a double down the right field line to score Cameron and get SU back within 7-2.
  • In the third, Kavi Caster and Danny Sheeler led off with back-to-back singles, then Stephen Rice doubled to left to bring in Caster and Andrew Kell knocked an RBI single. Following a pitching change, Geesaman laid down a squeeze bunt to plate Rice and make it 7-5.
  • After a wild pitch and a walk put men on the corners, Max Ehrhardt made it a one-run game with an RBI groundout. Hyder was hit by a pitch, then after a double steal, Ben Anderson ripped a pinch-hit two-run double down the left field line, capping a six-run inning and swinging the lead to SU, 8-7.
  • Rice led off the fourth with a double, then Kell walked and both men moved up on a wild pitch. Rice later scored on another wild pitch, and Kell came in on a third wild one that resulted in a Geesaman walk. After a strikeout and a groundout, Hyder dunked a two-sacker in the right field corner to score Geesaman and make it 11-7 Sea Gulls.
  • The Lions only managed four hits the rest of the way as Salisbury righted the ship on the mound and made the 11-7 margin stand up.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

  • Cameron Hyder doubled twice, finishing 2-for-4 with a run, stolen base and two RBIs.
  • Stephen Rice went 2-for-5 with two double of his own, plus two runs and an RBI.
  • Scott Cameron finished 1-for-2 with a double, RBI, steal and two runs scored, while Andrew Kell went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
  • Ben Anderson doubled and drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in his pinch-hitting appearance.
  • Tyler Villa (2-0) shut down the Lions over five scoreless innings in relief, scattering three hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 74 pitches.
  • Robbie Hollenbeck and Zach Adams pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.
  • Bryce Sterling got knocked out in the second inning of his start, surrendering four runs on two hits over 1.1 frames.

TCNJ GAME NOTES

  • Mike Lagravenis went 2-for-5 with a double, run and two RBIs from the leadoff slot.
  • Ryan Goodall doubled and drove in two runs, finishing 1-for-3.
  • Justin Marcario finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Andrew Fernandez went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
  • Michael Silver (0-1) took the loss for the Lions after giving up the two runs that put SU in front over an inning of work in relief.
  • Jordan Gray lasted two-plus innings in his start, giving up six runs on six hits.

UP NEXT

  • The Sea Gulls will cap their weekend with a Sunday matinee against No. 25 Johns Hopkins.
  • First pitch from Williams Stadium is slated for 12 p.m. with coverage on the Sea Gull Sports Network (SGSN) beginning at 11:45 a.m.

Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football, Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse and the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference for men's and women's swimming. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, and dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on-and-off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 22 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 188 conference championships and 43 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls.