NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The No. 4 Salisbury
University baseball team fell to Christopher Newport University 7-4
on Friday afternoon at Captains Park in a non-conference game. This
is the first game of the home-and-away series that will be
continued tomorrow (Saturday, April 25) as the Captains travel to
Sea Gull Field for a 1 p.m. in-region game.
Salisbury (33-6) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first
inning. Sophomore catcher Andrew Miller (one run)
led off the game with a single and then stole second base, his 22nd
swipe of the season. Senior shortstop Randy Boyle
reached on an error that allowed Miller to score from second base.
Salisbury carried the one-run lead into the third inning where
Christopher Newport tied the game at 1-1. Salisbury regained the
lead in the fourth inning when sophomore third baseman
Brian Green (one run) scored on a single by
sophomore Will Evans (one RBI) to put the Sea
Gulls up one, 2-1. Christopher Newport (22-9-1) answered with a run
of its own in the bottom half of the inning to knot the game at
2-2.
Salisbury scored its final two runs in the fifth inning. Junior
first baseman Mike Celenza (one run) scored on an
error and sophomore right fielder Brad Baylis (one
RBI) knocked in senior second baseman Cody Collins
(two hits, one run) for SU's fourth run. CNU would take over from
there as it scored twice in the sixth and seventh innings and added
an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
SU starting pitcher Eric Willey (8-3) recorded
the loss, his first since March 25, as he allowed six runs (three
earned) on six hits, three walks and struck out three in six and
one-third innings. Sophomore pitcher Mark Peterson
came in to relieve Willey and pitched one inning where he gave up
one run on three hits and struck out one. Junior Chad
Wolfe pitched the final two-thirds of an inning for the
Sea Gulls and allowed one hits.
Captain pitcher Kevin Moreland (3-0) picked up the win out of
the bullpen as he pitched the final three and two-third innings
where he held SU scoreless and allowed one hit, walked one and
struck out three. CNU's Josh Brinkman started the game and gave up
four runs on five hits and seven walks in over five innings of
work.
This is Salisbury's first road loss since a 2-1 setback against
St. Mary's (Md.) College on March 25.
