NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Salisbury University
softball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 13 Christopher Newport
University on Wednesday as the Sea Gulls fell 9-3 in the first
game and loss a tough 7-6 contest in the second game.
The Captains (11-1) got off to a strong start in the first game
when leadoff hitter Megan Morris took Sea Gull starting pitcher
Stacy Davis (2-2) deep for a home run. The
Captains pushed three runs across in the bottom of the second
inning. The third was much of the same as the CNU scored two more
runs and knocked Davis out of the game.
In the fourth inning, the Sea Gulls (4-4) got on the board with
Stacey Malarkey (two runs) reaching first base on
a fielder's choice. Malarkey stole second base, advanced to third
on a wild pitch and scored on an error by the catcher. Two innings
later, the Gulls got two more runs when junior catcher
Lauren Brenneman, the reigning Capital Athletic
Conference Player of the Week, knocked a single to center. Malarkey
then sent Captain pitcher Lindsay Kelly's (3-1) pitch over the
right field fence for her third home run of the season.
SU had cut the CNU lead in half, 6-3, as the Gulls took the
field in the bottom half of the sixth inning. The Captains added to
their lead when Kristen Nickloy hit a three-run home run off relief
pitcher Erika Brittingham (three strikeouts). In
the top of the seventh the Sea Gulls worked hard on a comeback
but the Captains were able to put an end to the SU rally quickly to
secure the win.
Salisbury broke out to an early 1-0 lead in the second game when
junior first baseman Ali Ritter scored on a
sacrifice fly by Davis. In the bottom half of the inning, the
Captains exploded for four runs as Ashley Mani slammed a three-run
home run off SU starter Kelsey Mills (1-2).
The Gulls quickly responded in the third as the maroon and gold
pushed across three runs to knot the game at 4-4. The three-run
inning was highlighted by sophomore Kristen Lord's
first home run of the season that scored her teammate
Meaghan O'Gara. Christopher Newport scored one run
in the third, fourth and fifth innings to push the lead to 7-4.
In the top of the seventh, the Sea Gulls mounted a strong
comeback attempt. Lord started things off with a walk. After a
quick out, Malarkey singled to left field and Ritter reached base
on an infield single to load the bases. CNU pitcher Kristen
Rowe (7-0) struck out Casey Zaino to give
the Captains two outs. Davis stepped to the plate and singled up
the middle to score Lord and Malarkey and pull the Sea Gulls within
one, 7-6. Sea Gull pinch hitter Amanda DeMoine was
next up but the rally ended on Rowe's fifth strikeout of the game.
Of note in the loss for SU was All-American junior shortstop
Kelly Waskewicz was held hitless in a doubleheader
for the first time in her career.
Salisbury will look to regroup this weekend when it will host
the Sea Gull Invitational featuring 16 teams from around the region
and nationally at the Henry Parker Complex, located on the north
side of town, on March 13-14. SU will take on Geneseo State and
Swarthmore on Friday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
