SALISBURY, Md. – Once again opening the season against a fierce regional rival, the second-ranked Salisbury University baseball team rose to the occasion to top the 10th-ranked Cortland Red Dragons, 8-3, on Friday afternoon at Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sea Gulls wasted no time getting their new-look lineup into the swing of things. Kyle Brex doubled with one out in the bottom of the first inning and Danny Sheeler promptly singled him home with the first run of the game. Two batters later Tim Petrucelli lashed a line drive two-run home run that just snuck over the right field wall, giving SU an instant 3-0 lead.
• Trent Waire led off the bottom of the second with a walk and took third on a Roman March single. Brex then hit into an RBI groundout to score Waire and make it 4-0.
• The Red Dragons struck back in the top of the fifth. Mitch Kelly led off with a single, then two batters later JJ DeLawder brought him home with an RBI double. Chris Bonacci and Jon Munoz followed with back-to-back singles that produced another run, then after a Mat Bruno base hit loaded the sacks, Nick Chemotti hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice to cut the Cortland deficit to 4-3.
• Salisbury got two runs back in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Ben Anderson worked a walk to force in a run, and Adam Tommer brought another home with a fielder's choice to make it 6-3.
• In the seventh, Roman March worked a one-out walk and took third on a bad pickoff. Brex singled March home, then after a groundout moved Brex into scoring position, Dylan Winebrenner dropped an RBI single into right to boost the margin to 8-3.
• Cole Williams faced a tough spot in the ninth as Cortland put two men on with two out, but Munoz grounded out harmlessly to Waire at third, and the Sea Gulls put away an 8-3 victory to open the new slate.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Tim Petrucelli smoked a two-run homer in his first at-bat as a Sea Gull, finishing 1-for-5 on the day.
• Kyle Brex made a big impact in his Sea Gull debut, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, a run scored, and a stolen base.
• Danny Sheeler finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, while Dylan Winebrenner went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
• Ben Anderson and Adam Tommer drove in a run each.
• Cole Williams (1-0) looked the part in his collegiate debut, finishing the job on the mound with 4.2 scoreless frames. Williams walked one and fanned four.
• Tyler Villa lasted 4.1 effective innings in his first start of the year, giving up three runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout on 78 pitches.

CORTLAND GAME NOTES

• Chris Bonacci went 3-for-5 and scored a run from the leadoff slot for the Red Dragons.
• JJ DeLawder picked up a pinch-hit RBI double and scored a run.
• Jon Munoz and Nick Chemotti drove in the other two runs for Cortland.
• Devin Georgetti (0-1) took the loss in his first start of the year, surrendering four runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls and Red Dragons will play their second game of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon.
• First pitch from Williams Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.