SALISBURY, Md. - The No. 5 Salisbury University
baseball team overcame some early struggles at the plate and
received a very strong performance from junior Eric
Willey on the mound to defeat York (Pa.) College, 13-1, on
Tuesday afternoon at Sea Gull Field in the first round of the
Capital Athletic Conference tournament.
Willey (7-0) went the distance on the mound and gave up just one
run (unearned) on four hits, struck out eight and walked just one
in nine innings.
Top-seed Salisbury (33-1) managed just two hits through the
first five innings as York starter freshman Andrew Rosenzweig (2-5)
kept the Sea Gulls off balance as he mixed his pitches well and was
ahead in the count on the majority of batters he faced.
The victory is Salisbury's 33rd in a row, the longest streak in
the nation, as the Sea Gulls improve to 21-0 at home this season.
This is the fourth time SU has beaten York (10-23) this season.
Salisbury advances to the second round of the CAC tournament where
the Sea Gulls will host fourth-seed St. Mary's (Md.) College.
York, the sixth-seed, jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the
first inning. Freshman Rob Klinck led off with a ground ball to
third baseman Justin Armiger (1-for-5, one run,
RBI) who uncharacteristically let the ball go between his legs for
an error. Klinck then stole second base and advanced to third on a
slow ground ball to the shortstop. Senior Dennis Maxim (2-for-4,
RBI) stepped up with two outs and singled past the outstretched
reach of junior second baseman Randy Boyle
(2-for-5, two runs, two RBI) to plate the Spartans first run of the
game.
Armiger redeemed himself in the fourth inning when the senior
dove to his right and snagged a bullet line-drive hit by York
sophomore Anthony Anzalone. The catch was a key moment in the game
as Maxim was on third base ready to trot home to give the Spartans
a 2-0 advantage. A two run lead could had been a huge momentum
swing in the game as neither offense could string any hits
together.
That all changed in the sixth inning when the Sea Gulls finally
got to Rosenzweig. Senior Brian Camper (1-for-3,
two runs, RBI) led off the inning by reaching on an error by the
shortstop. Junior Jordan Crystal (2-for-4, one
run, two RBI) bunted Camper over to second. Boyle came through with
the Sea Gulls' third hit of the day, a single to left-center field
which scored Camper to tie the game at one apiece. Sophomore
Mike Celenza (2-for-3, two runs, RBI) singled
through the right side to drive home Boyle to give the Sea Gulls
the lead for the first time in the game which they would not
relinquish. Freshman Andrew Miller (3-for-4, one
run, three RBI) finished off the inning with a two-run double to
left-center field to give Salisbury a 4-1 lead heading into the
seventh inning.
Willey sent the Spartans down 1-2-3 in the seventh to put the
offense back in the dugout quickly. The Sea Gulls carried their
momentum from the sixth inning into the seventh as they scored
eight runs on six hits, paced by senior Tyler
Riley's two out, two-run double down the left field line.
The Gulls added one more run in the eighth on an RBI single by
Miller.
In addition to Armiger's snag at third base, Salisbury's Boyle
made an amazing diving catch in the eighth inning as he robbed
Klinck of a hit with an over the shoulder catch.
The Sea Gulls are still ranked No. 5 in the American Baseball
Coaches Association Division III poll, as a new poll has not been
released. In the D3baseball.com weekly poll, Salisbury moved
up two spots to No. 3 in the country. The maroon and gold also
received one first-place vote.
