FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Salisbury University baseball team saw its run in the NCAA South Regional come to an end on Saturday, falling to Shenandoah University, 6-4, ending the Sea Gulls' season. The victory sends the Hornets on to the NCAA World Series for the second consecutive season.

The Sea Gulls (30-13) found themselves in a hole early as Shenandoah brought home three runs in the bottom of the second on a three-run home run and plated two more in the third and another in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead.

Senior Kyle Starr (Lusby, Md.) got the start on two days rest for the Sea Gulls, working five innings against a potent Shenandoah lineup. Starr gave up six hits and struck out four batters.

Salisbury scored late to make a run at the Hornets, beginning its scoring with one run in the top of the seventh inning as senior Ryan Smith (Waldorf, Md.) drove in classmate Matt O'Keefe (Gaithersburg, Md.) for Salisbury's first run of the game.

O'Keefe and Smith each drove home one run in the eighth to get the Sea Gulls within three, trailing 6-3, and setting up the chance for a ninth-inning rally.

Senior Andrew Miller (Schwenksville, Pa.) got the ninth inning started with a single before another single by senior Mike Celenza (Gaithersburg, Md.), with one out, put runners at the corners. A single by junior Brian Green (Salisbury, Md.) drove home Miller to cut the deficit to 6-4, and senior Tim Kellinger (Knoxville, Md.) singled with two outs to load the bases. But a strikeout would end the game and Salisbury's season.

It was strong relief work by freshman Andrew Levy (Hampstead, Md.) and junior Drew Baldwin (Winston-Salem, N.C.) that allowed the Sea Gulls to take their shot at the Hornets late. Levy worked 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while Baldwin came on to work 2/3 of an inning to end the Shenandoah eighth inning.

Baldwin worked in four of Salisbury's five games in the regional, not allowing a run over 5 1/3 innings.

Salisbury junior Will Evans (Salisbury, Md.), junior pitcher Kyle Judson (Gaithersburg, Md.) and O'Keefe were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

The loss means the end of the careers of seniors Chad Wolfe (Thurmont, Md.), Kellinger, O'Keefe, Miller, Starr, Smith and Celenza. In the last four years Salisbury has posted a record of 142-35 with four trips to the NCAA tournament. Celenza left his individual mark on the program, taking over the top spot in five career records this season (hits, RBI, doubles, total bases and walks).