SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 10 Salisbury University baseball team squared off against No. 11 Shenandoah University at Sea Gull Baseball Stadium on Thursday afternoon and came away with a big 9-7 victory following a late offensive surge.

THE RUNDOWN

Final Score: Salisbury 9, Shenandoah 7

Records: Salisbury (8-3) | Shenandoah (10-2)

Location: Sea Gull Baseball Stadium – Salisbury, Md.

BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Shenandoah jumped out to a quick lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on a throwing error and a pair of bases-loaded singles.
• Salisbury answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded and one away, Will Manship singled to center field, scoring Brad Haas from third base. In the next at-bat, Justin Meekins was hit by a pinch to advance everyone a base and score Matt Padeway, making it 3-2 in favor of the Hornets.
• An RBI bunt single by Cameron Hyder in the fourth inning tied the game up at 3-3 as Jimmy Adkins was able to score from third on the play.
• Shenandoah went ahead once again in the sixth inning on a three-run no-doubt home run to straightaway right field by Keegan Woolford to make it 6-3 Hornets.
• The maroon and gold continued to claw back into the game beginning in the bottom half of the sixth on a two-run home run by Meekins that smacked off the left field foul pole, bringing the score to 6-5.
• The Sea Gulls jumped into the lead for the first time on the afternoon in the bottom of the seventh inning. With runners on first and second, Brandon Bonesteel sent a pitch he liked deep down the left field line for a two-RBI triple to put Salisbury ahead, 7-6. Adkins followed with a triple of his own over the head of the Hornets' center fielder to score Bonesteel. Jimmy Monaghan's sacrifice fly in the next-at bat scored Adkins from third base and put Salisbury up 9-6.
• Woolford drilled an RBI-double into center field for the Hornets in the eighth inning, but their rally would fall short as Salisbury held on for the 9-7 victory.

GAME NOTES

• After struggling with his command in the first inning, Salisbury starting pitcher Jackson Balzan settled in to pitch 5 2/3 affected innings, striking out six batters and scattering seven hits.
• Corey Burton (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, pitching two innings in relief while striking out three batters.
• Braden Stinar was credited with the save, tossing the final 1 1/3 innings of the game while allowing no hits and striking out one batter to secure the victory.
• Justin Meekins shined on the afternoon, going 2-for-2 at the plate while also drawing a pair of walks. The senior drove in three runs, including his two-run homer, while also swiping his team-leading 11th stolen base.
• Jimmy Adkins went 2-for-3 while driving in a run and scoring three more.