CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The Salisbury University baseball team came from behind to claim an 11-7 victory over Eastern Shore rival Washington (Md.) College on Wednesday afternoon. 



The Shoremen (17-18) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Nick Marinelli led off the bottom of the inning with a single, and later scored on an error. Washington added to its lead in the bottom of the second, kicked off by a double by Joe Willis; Willis moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Mulhearn.

Salisbury (23-11) tallied its first run in the top of the fifth inning when junior catcher Tyler Bennett hit a solo home run to center field.

The Sea Gulls tacked on three runs in the top of sixth, after freshman infielder John Schiotis led off the inning with a walk. Freshman Bill Root reached base safely with a single to right center, that moved Schiotis to second base. The two advanced after a bunt by freshman Joey Jones, before Schiotis scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Brian Green. SU senior Dustin Herbert homered to right field, to bring in Root and extend the lead to 4-2.

After Salisbury scored in the top of the seventh, the Shoremen responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 5-5.

The Sea Gulls quickly regained the lead, as the team pushed across five runs in the top of the eighth inning. Salisbury freshman Chris Connor and junior Nick Walls each hit home runs in the inning.

Salisbury tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth to bring the lead to 11-5; Washington scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame cutting the lead to 11-7, but that would be as close as it would get.

Senior pitcher Nathan Young started the contest and went 6 2/3 innings, before handing things over to junior Devin Gardner; the Grasonville, Md., native earned his first victory of the season after recording one out to get the Sea Gulls out of a jam. Senior pitcher Drew Baldwin finished out the last two innings for the maroon and gold.

The Sea Gulls are set to hit the road for a weekend set at Methodist University this Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's contest is scheduled for 1 p.m.