WAUKESHA. Wisc. – The 12th-ranked Salisbury University softball team began the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Championship Series in a big way with a 9-1 five-inning run-rule victory over the Southern Virginia Knights on Thursday.

BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Southern Virginia took the early lead when Whitney Lofthouse scored from third on a dropped third strike and delayed steal play in the first inning.
• Salisbury tied the game at one in the bottom of the first when Abby Mace led off the game with a double, was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lindsey Windsor and Kaleigh Edwards brought her home with an infield single.
• The Sea Gulls took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single by Alissa Saverino. Saverino scored later in the inning on an error by the Southern Virginia left fielder.
• Maddison Lednum led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo shot to center field to push Salisbury's lead to 4-1.
• A five-run fifth inning invoked the run rule. The fifth was highlighted by an RBI single by Francesca Cuttitta and a three-run walk-off by Mace.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Salisbury scored in every inning but the fourth.
• Abby Mace led the way with a 3-3 with a three-run home run, a double, a stolen base and a pair of runs scored.
• Maddison Lednum hit her second home run of the year with the solo home run in the third. She also scored twice in the victory.
• Lindsey Windsor (W, 10-3) earned the win with a complete-game effort. She scattered two hits and struck out eight Knights while only allowed a walk and an earned run.

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA GAME NOTES

• Whitney Lofthouse and Abigail Harris collected the lone two hits for Southern Virginia.
• Krystal Kemp (L, 4-9) was saddled with the loss. She gave up eight hits and four runs (three earned) in four innings of work.

UP NEXT

• Salisbury advances to face No. 12 Christopher Newport in the C2C Semifinals on Friday, May 7.
• The game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. CT.