YORK, Pa. - Salisbury University left-hander
Bryan Brainer threw a complete game gem against
the top-seed York (Pa.) College on Saturday morning as the No. 4
seed Sea Gulls blanked the Spartans 6-0 and advanced to Sunday's
championship round. Brainer (7-2) struck out the side to start the
game and settled into a fantastic groove where he only allowed five
hits, issued four walks and struck out 12 in 138 pitches.
Salisbury (25-7) will face No. 2 seed University of Mary
Washington tomorrow at Noon. SU, the defending conference
champions, must be beaten twice to prevent the maroon and gold from
hoisting a second straight CAC title and seventh overall.
The Sea Gulls got on the board in the bottom of the first on an
unearned run and later added to that lead in the fourth inning when
senior Alex Vitale blasted his fifth home run of
the season to left field.
SU, ranked No. 9 nationally, broke open the game in the seventh
inning as the Gulls chased York starter Tim Frisch (4-2), who
allowed six runs (four earned) on 11 hits, one walk and struck out
four. Mark Bostwick (2-for-4) and Hunter
Wessells (2-for-5) each had a double in the four-run
inning. Senior Colin Kraus singled home two runs
and freshman Mike Celenza drove in the final run
of the game.
The Eagles eliminated St. Mary's (Md.) College 11-7 on Saturday
morning and then knocked the host Spartans, ranked No. 23 in the
country, out of the tournament in the afternoon with an 11-1
victory. During the regular-season UMW swept Salisbury in a
home-and-home series by a combined score of 17-10.