VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The No. 7 Salisbury University softball team split a pair of games on the first day of the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Blast Tournament defeating Roanoke College, 1-0, and falling to Shenandoah University, 6-5.

Junior catcher Michelle Gravdahl hit her third home run of the season during the fourth inning in the Gulls' first game of the tournament. She also came up big from behind the plate, picking off a Roanoke runner at second, giving Salisbury (5-1) two outs and taking away a scoring opportunity from the Maroons (4-3).

Senior Erika Brittingham went the distance on the mound for the maroon and gold starting off the game by striking out the first seven batters. The Georgetown, Del., native ended the contest with 12 strikeouts and three walks while allowing three hits.

In the second game of the day, Salisbury fell behind Shenandoah (4-0) early on as the Hornets batted in three runs in the bottom of the first. Freshman Rachel Johnson came on in relief of sophomore pitcher Kathryn Larson and struck out six batters, giving up two runs in her 5 2/3 innings.

The Sea Gulls quickly closed the scoring gap in the top of the second after junior Hannah Mills tripled, putting her in scoring position. Classmate Carly Read then drove home Mills with a single and later scored on a wild pitch.

Shenandoah brought two additional runs across the plate giving the Hornets a 5-2 advantage going into the seventh inning.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, sophomore Virginia Walther stepped up to the plate and hit her first career home run, a solo shot, making the score 5-3. Gravdahl was then walked, followed by a single from junior Lindsay Brown, putting two on base. Junior Lindsay McCabe drove a double to right center field, allowing the tying runs to cross the plate.

Brittingham took the mound in the bottom of the seventh as Shenandoah came up with three hits to score the winning run.

Salisbury will be back in action tomorrow, taking on Eastern Mennonite University at 2 p.m., and then at 4 p.m., against Randolph College to wrap up the tournament.