May 19, 2023

No. 2 Salisbury Baseball pushes past PSH, 6-2, to open NCAA Regionals

More news about: Salisbury

Batting

Penn State-Harrisburg
2B: Brendan Henn; Matt Parks
3B: none
HR: none
Salisbury
2B: Kavi Caster; Stephen Rice
3B: none
HR: Kavi Caster
full stats

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The second-ranked Salisbury University baseball team used a four-run eighth inning to take down the Penn State Harrisburg Lions, 6-2, in Game One of the best-of-five NCAA Regionals on Friday afternoon at Nittany Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • With the Sea Gulls playing as the home team for the opening game, the Lions took an instant lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Dallas Hite led off with a single and came around to score on a passed ball, Kevin Lehner single and another passed ball to put PSH on top 1-0.
  • Salisbury answered in a similar manner in the bottom of the second. Stephen Rice blooped a single into right with one out, took second on a groundout and came home on consecutive passed balls to even proceedings at 1-1.
  • From there the game devolved into a pitchers' duel, with SU's Jimmy Adkins and PSH's Josh Berzonski shutting down multiple would-be rallies through the end of the fifth.
  • The Lions regained control in the sixth. Maddux Ryan singled to lead off and took second on a grounder, then Blaine Waltimyer bounced an RBI base knock up the middle to make it 2-1 PSH.
  • In the seventh, Rice singled with one out and moved up to second on a passed ball. Luke Weddell then dropped another bloop hit into left center, scoring Rice to tie the game at 2-2.
  • The Salisbury bats finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth. Cameron Hyder walked to lead off, then after a fielder's choice Kavi Caster unleashed a towering two-run blast to right center field, giving the Sea Gulls their first lead of the day at 4-2.
  • Danny Sheeler drew another free pass to restart the rally, and Rice doubled two batters later to put men on second and third. Sheeler then slid home on a passed ball, and after back-to-back walks Scott Cameron was plunked with the bases loaded to force in another and make it 6-2.
  • Adkins allowed two baserunners in the ninth on a hit batsman and a two-out double but got Matt Parks to ground out back to the mound, with Adkins himself applying the tag to finish off his nine-inning gem.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

  • Kavi Caster played the late-game hero again with his 10th home run of the season, adding a double and two RBIs to a 2-for-4 day.
  • Caster becomes the first Sea Gull since Jason Ewing in 2001-02 to go yard 10-plus times in back-to-back seasons. With 28 career dingers, he has pulled even with Jack Barry '19 for third on the all-time SU leaderboard.
  • Caster's blast was the Sea Gulls' 56th home run as a team in 2023, tying the program record set by the 2009 squad. Salisbury now has three players with double-digit home runs in one season (Jacob Ference, Danny Sheeler) for the first time in program history.
  • Stephen Rice finished 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. With 49 career two-sackers, he is one away from matching Greg Lemon '06 for second all-time and two shy the SU record set by Mike Celenza '10.
  • Luke Weddell batted 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Sheeler went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
  • Jimmy Adkins (5-0) tossed his seventh career complete game, limiting the nation's second-best scoring offense to two runs (one earned) on nine hits. Adkins walked none and struck out seven on a season-high 127 pitches, going the distance for the first time since the opening game of the 2022 College World Series against UW-Stevens Point.
  • By recording the second out of the sixth, Adkins reached 302.1 career innings pitched, surpassing Brian Brushe '78 for the most in SU history. He now stands at 305.2 career frames after the complete game.

PENN STATE HARRISBURG GAME NOTES

  • Blaine Waltimyer finished 1-for-4 with the Lions' only RBI on the day.
  • Maddux Ryan batted 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Matt Parks went 2-for-5 with a double.
  • Simeon Davis (3-1) was dealt the loss in relief, surrendering Caster's go-ahead two-run homer for his only hit in an inning of work.
  • Josh Berzonski performed well in a 6.1-inning no-decision, allowing just two unearned runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts on 118 pitches.

UP NEXT

  • The Sea Gulls and Lions will battle in Games Two and Three of the NCAA Regionals on Saturday. Two wins by Salisbury would clinch the regional championship.
  • Game Two is slated for a 10 a.m. first pitch with Game Three beginning approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.
  • PSH will play as the home team in Game Two, while Salisbury will be the home side in Game Three.

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 men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. 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 44 Academic All-Americans.

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