VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The No. 9 Salisbury
University baseball team began its 2009 season with a 16-3 victory
over Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon at Marlin
Field in front of a crowd of 250.
Salisbury (1-0) pounded out 19 hits and had six players tally at
least two hits in the victory. Junior catcher Ryan
Smith did not disappoint in his SU debut as he went
3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs. Smith smashed a three-run home
run in the fifth inning to give SU a 9-0 lead. In the next inning
designated hitter Chad Wolfe (2-for-3) blasted a
solo home run to give the Gulls a 10-run cushion. SU had two
players record four hits in the game in sophomore right fielder
Andrew Miller (three RBIs, one run) and sophomore
shortstop Will Evans (three runs, one RBI). The
entire starting lineup scored at least one run apiece in the
victory and all but two players collected hits.
After two scoreless frames to begin the game the Sea Gulls
erupted in the top of the third inning with six runs. With one out,
the Sea Gulls were issued back-to-back walks by Marlin starter Gary
Bulman. Bulman (0-1), who walked three prior to the start of the
inning, was chased from the game and replaced with Shawn Polke. SU
welcomed Polke with two consecutive RBI doubles by Smith and senior
center fielder Jordan Crystal (one run, one RBI).
The next four batters would all reach base safely as the maroon and
gold opened the flood gates early.
The Sea Gulls offense went back to work in the fifth inning with
three runs. Evans got things started with a single down the left
field line. One out later, second baseman Randy Boyle drew one of
his three walks. After a fly out to right field the stage was set
for Smith with two outs. Smith cleared the bases with his first
home run of the season.
Salisbury held a 10-0 lead through the first seven innings
before Virginia Wesleyan (0-1) would get on the board. The first
three VWC batters of the inning would reach base and two runs later
scored on RBIs from shortstop Brandon Hathaway and third baseman
Tim Black.
The Gulls were not phased and immediately answered back. SU
loaded the bases to begin the eighth. SU scored two more runs on an
Andrew Miller double. Two batters later, junior first baseman
Mike Celenza (three walks, one
run) advanced the Sea Gull lead with a two-run single. SU
capped off its scoring in the game with two runs in the ninth on
RBI hits from Andrew Miller and sophomore third baseman
Brian Green.
Sea Gull starting pitcher Eric Willey
(1-0) was brilliant for Salisbury on the mound. The senior retired
VWC in order for the first two innings as he scattered five hits
over six innings. Willey did not issue a walk and had five
strikeouts for his first victory of the season. He did not allow a
single Marlin to reach third base in his six innings of work.
Sophomore Alex Duda pitched two innings and
allowed two earned runs on two hits. Freshman Pat
O'Keefe closed out the game for the Salisbury in the ninth
where he struck out two Marlins.
Virginia Wesleyan had seven players hit safely in the game. VWC
was led by senior Phil Cadle and Hathaway (one RBI), who had two
hits apiece. Bulman was tagged with the loss after he surrendered
two earned runs in just over two innings of work. The Marlins used
eight pitchers in the game as freshman Bobby George was the only
VWC pitcher to throw one scoreless inning of relief.
Salisbury remains on the road as it will travel to Rocky Mount,
N.C., to face North Carolina Wesleyan College tomorrow (Sunday,
February 8) at 11 a.m. in a key South Region doubleheader. The Sea
Gulls last squared off with the Battling Bishops in 2002.
