VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Two outs stood between
the No. 26 Salisbury University baseball team and a 2008 season
opening victory. A wild pitch and an extra inning pinch-hit single
later saw Virginia Wesleyan College complete the 5-4 comeback in 10
innings on Saturday afternoon at Marlins Field before a crowd of
250.
The Marlins (1-0) scored five unanswered runs in the final three
innings of play as the Sea Gull bullpen surrendered all five earned
runs on six hits and one walk. Junior Adam Keeling
(0-1) suffered the loss as he faced eight batters and gave up three
runs on four hits. VWC pinch-hitter Kevin Nally drove in the
game-winning run on a single that plated C.J. Rhodes, who began the
inning with a double to center.
Salisbury (0-1) controlled the game for the first eight innings.
The Sea Gulls took an early 2-0 lead as the maroon and gold scored
twice in the fourth inning.
Sophomore first baseman Mike Celenza (3-for-6)
plated two in the eighth on a double to right field with two outs.
Catcher Tyler Riley and second baseman
Randy Boyle came around to score on the shot by
Celenza.
The Marlins got back in the game in the bottom of the eight as
sophomore Mike Maron blasted a two-run homer to left off junior
pitcher Jordan Crystal.
SU senior Mark Bostwick singled in the ninth to
begin the inning and advanced to second on a Marlin error. Right
fielder Andrew Miller drew a walk from pitcher
Chris Deanes (1-0). The senior hurler then struck out Brian
Camper, Riley and Will Evans to end the
inning and the Sea Gull threat.
Keeling relieved Crystal to begin the bottom of the ninth and
was quickly greeted by VWC's Matt Elliott, who singled to center.
Phil Cadle followed with a RBI double to left field. Cadle advanced
to third on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Brandon Hathaway and then
scored on a Keeling wild pitch to tie the game at four apiece.
Keeling got out of the inning on a fly out and ground out.
Salisbury tried to manufacture a run in the 10th. Crystal
reached on an error by Hathaway. Boyle moved Crystal to second base
on a sacrifice. A batter later, senior Justin
Armiger reached on a walk. The Sea Gulls had runners at
first and second base and two outs. Deanes recorded his fifth
strikeout as he got Bostwick to end the inning.
SU senior starter Ryan Bennick (three
strikeouts) went two scoreless innings to begin the game followed
by junior Eric Willey's three scoreless frames and
freshman Dustin Herbert pitched a
scoreless two innings for the Sea Gulls.
The Gulls are off a week before the home opener on Sunday,
February 17, as Salisbury welcomes Stevens Tech to town for a Noon
doubleheader.
