SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 12 Salisbury University baseball team saw its run in the Capital Athletic Conference tournament come to an end much earlier than the top-seeded Sea Gulls had hoped.

Salisbury fell 18-13 to the University of Mary Washington, the tournament's fifth seed, on Saturday afternoon eliminating the Sea Gulls from the double-elimination event. Salisbury started the day with an 8-5 win over Stevenson University.

The Sea Gulls' win over the Mustangs was thanks to a strong pitching performance by senior Kyle Starr (Lusby, Md.) and strong batting up and down the lineup.

Starr worked seven innings to collect the win, improving to 4-1 on the season. He allowed just six Stevenson hits while striking out four batters.

He was given all the offense that he needed in the first two innings as the Salisbury offense came out hot, scoring five runs in the first inning and adding two more in the second. The Sea Gulls opened the game with three straight hits and never looked back. Junior Andrew Miller (Schwenksville, Pa.) scored the first run, coming around from second base on a single by Brad Baylis (Pocomoke, Md.) and a Stevenson error.

Baylis was one of four Sea Gulls to finish the first game with two hits. Baylis, seniors Mike Celenza (Gaithersburg, Md.), Devon Quaglietta (Monroe Township, N.J.) and Chad Wolfe (Thurmont, Md.) each finished 2-for-5. Celenza had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs while Quaglietta and Baylis each scored twice.

In the loss to Mary Washington, the Eagles jumped out to a big lead early.  They scored in the first six innings and seven of their eight times at bat. After three innings, Mary Washington led the game 4-2.

Salisbury scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead 6-4, but the Eagles tied the game again in their half of the fourth with two runs. After a seven-run fifth inning, Mary Washington took the lead for good and never looked back.

Celenza led the team by driving in a career-high 10 of the Salisbury's 13 runs. He had four hits in six at-bats including two home runs. The home runs give the senior first baseman 30 for his career, just four behind the career record of 34 held by Jason Ewing. Celenza's 10 RBI in the game tied the CAC record that is also held by Ewing.

Miller, Baylis and Wolfe all contributed with one RBI each.

Salisbury's next game will be on April 22 at Christopher Newport University at 3 p.m., to open up its two game-season series.  The series finale will be on April 23 when the Sea Gulls return home against Christopher Newport at the SU Baseball Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.