SALISBURY, Md. – The ninth-ranked and top-seeded Salisbury University baseball team moved one step closer to a repeat Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) title, dispatching the third-seeded Mary Washington Eagles, 11-1, on Friday afternoon at Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
The Sea Gulls' win sets up a best-of-three championship series against second-seeded Christopher Newport, who beat UMW 13-12 earlier in the day. The first game is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday at Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Sea Gulls drew first blood in the third inning. Patrick Campbell led off with a single, then after a hit batsman and walk to load the bases, Sky Rahill lifted a sac fly to deep center, scoring Campbell to put SU up 1-0.
- The floodgates opened for Salisbury in the fourth. Luke Weddell singled with one out and Cameron Hyder was plunked to put two men on. That brought up Campbell, who cranked a three-run homer to left, his first as a Sea Gull, to make it 4-0.
- Two batters later Stephen Rice reached on a two-out error at third and promptly stole second. Rahill then lashed a liner that got by the center fielder for an RBI triple, and Rahill scored on a Jacob Ference grounder that again ate up the third baseman, boosting the SU lead to 6-0.
- Ben Anderson led off the fifth with a walk and was pinch-run for by Trent Saunders. Following a sac bunt, Hyder reached on an error at second, putting men on the corners. After Campbell struck out and Hyder stole second, Kavi Caster grooved one through the right side for a two-run single to make it 8-0.
- The Sea Gulls scored three more in the sixth on a Weddell RBI double and Hyder two-run single, cracking double digits and going up 11-0.
- The Eagles finally got on the board in the eighth as Luke Guerzon led off with a triple and scored on a Burke Stiefman RBI single that gave the game its final 11-1 margin.
SALISBURY GAME NOTES
- Patrick Campbell delivered at the plate for the Sea Gulls, going 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and two runs scored. Campbell also walked twice and executed a sacrifice bunt.
- Cameron Hyder finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the leadoff slot. He also threw out a baserunner at third base from right field.
- Kavi Caster made a diving catch in center to record the game's first out, setting up a 1-for-4, two-RBI day at the plate for the C2C Player of the Year.
- Sky Rahill finished 1-for-4 with a triple, run and two RBIs. Luke Weddell went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI, two runs and two walks.
- Jimmy Adkins (5-1) picked up his fifth win in six starts. The newly-christened C2C Pitcher of the Year allowed one run on six hits in seven-plus innings, walking none and striking out one on 86 pitches.
- Brandon Epstein nailed down the final six outs in hitless fashion, punching out two along the way.
MARY WASHINGTON GAME NOTES
- Burke Steifman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI to help the Eagles avoid a shutout.
- Luke Guerzon tripled for UMW's only extra-base hit; he finished 1-for-3.
- Brendan McComber (3-7) took the loss after giving up six runs (four earned) on five hits in four innings of work.
UP NEXT
- Game 1 of the best-of-three C2C championship series between top-seeded Salisbury and second-seeded CNU will begin on Saturday at 12 p.m. with Game 2 to follow at approximately 3:30 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Sunday at 12 p.m.
- Before the first game on Saturday, Salisbury will honor its seven graduating seniors: infielders Sky Rahill, Trent Saunders and Luke Weddell and pitchers Jimmy Adkins, Mike Hohlfeld, Xavier Marmol and Jaret Price.
- Game and Senior Day coverage on the Sea Gull Sports Network (SGSN) will begin at 11:40 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 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 41 Academic All-Americans.
To learn more about the tradition of excellence with Sea Gull Athletics, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls.