NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Salisbury University softball team collected a pair of wins on Saturday at the NCAA regional at Christopher Newport University, including a close victory against Susquehanna University, to advance to tomorrow's contest against Messiah College. Just yesterday, the Sea Gulls fell 4-2 to Messiah in first-round action; thus, every game will now be a must-win situation for Salisbury.

The Sea Gulls (36-3) first collected a convincing 8-2 victory against Frostburg State University on Saturday morning at the NCAA regional. The Sea Gulls got a 3-for-3 performance from freshman Michelle Gravdahl (Ellicott City, Md.) while seniors Jen Cahall (Elkton, Md.) and Kelly Waskewicz (Virginia Beach, Va.) each went 2-for-3. Sophomore Erika Brittingham (Georgetown, Del.) collected the win, allowing six hits while striking out seven in her seven innings of work.

The second game was more of a nail-biter for the maroon and gold, who captured a narrow 1-0 victory off of a bases-loaded fielder's choice play in the bottom of the seventh inning; a chopper off the bat of Rachel Hastings (Westborough, Mass.) was scooped up by the Susquehanna (34-13) second baseman, whose subsequent throw to home plate in an effort to tag out Cahall was unsuccessful. That one run would be all the Sea Gulls needed to advance to their redemption match against Messiah.

Junior Kelly Leary (Severn, Md.) earned her 20th win of the season, scattering five hits and allowing just one walk while striking out seven Susquehanna batters. 

"To get through today was really big for us," said Head Coach Margie Knight. "That was an emotional loss to Messiah. Our comeback today just shows that we're in really good shape."

The Sea Gulls and Falcons will face off tomorrow at 2 p.m. The winner of that game will square off against regional host Christopher Newport University tomorrow afternoon.