COCOA, Fla. - Junior catcher Ryan Smith tallied a career-high nine RBIs as he smashed three home runs as the No. 2 Salisbury University baseball team cruised to a 17-9 victory over Nichols (Mass.) College on Thursday in Cocoa, Fla. The Sea Gulls hit five home runs on the day, seven players recorded at least two hits and three had three hits in the eight-run victory.

Salisbury (17-2) was led by Smith (three hits, three runs) who clubbed six of his nine RBIs in the first inning on two three-run home runs. Sophomore shortstop Will Evans (three hits) knocked in three RBIs and hit a home run while senior center fielder Jordan Crystal had three hits. Freshman Bill Morton registered his first career home run as he chipped in two hits and three RBIs. Senior second baseman Randy Boyle and junior first baseman Mike Celenza (two RBIs) were both a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate while sophomore third baseman Brian Green (one RBI) added two hits.

Sophomore Alex Duda improved to 2-0 after he went five innings where he allowed three earned runs and struck out five Bison hitters. Nichols (3-2) scored several runs off the Sea Gull bullpen in the final four innings. In the sixth, SU brought in Crystal who made his first appearance on the mound this season. Crystal went one inning, gave up two runs and limited Nichols to just one hit. Sophomore southpaw Dustin Herbert (one strikeout) retired the side, in order, in the seventh while freshman Trevor Abbot gave up a single run in the eighth. Freshman Daniel Trivits (two strikeouts) threw the ninth inning and limited the Bison to one run on one hit.

Salisbury will play its final Spring Break game on Friday, March 20, against The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey at 9 a.m.