SALISBURY, Md. – A pitcher's duel and a defensive battle led to a walk-off 2-1 victory for the fourth-ranked Salisbury University softball team over the Endicott Gulls in the 'Battle of the Gulls' in the Salisbury Regional Semifinals of the 2022 NCAA Championships.

BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game was delayed three hours and 15 minutes due to rain in the Salisbury area.
• After a scoreless three and a half innings, Salisbury used some aggressive baserunning to get the scoring started. Francesca Cuttitta scored on a groundout from second base after a throw back to third on a Maddison Lednum groundout that got away from the Endicott third baseman.
• Endicott responded by taking advantage of a Salisbury error that scored Emma DaSilva from third base to tie the game at 1.
• The Sea Gulls loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Natalie Paoli drove in Madi Lemon on an RBI single to left-center field to send the Sea Gulls into the regional championship.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Meghan Reed was a perfect 2-for -2 at the plate with the lone extra-base hit for either team with a double in the second inning.
• Lindsey Windsor collected her 16th win of the season. She struck out four and scattered seven hits with an unearned run.
• Abby Mace and Francesca Cuttitta each registered a stolen base.

ENDICOTT GAME NOTES

• Jaylin Couto started the game and allowed the game-winning run after reentering in the seventh in relief of Maria Hanchuk. Both pitchers only allowed one run. Couto struck out three in five-plus innings of work.
• Chrissy Marotto tallied a pair of hits for the Gulls.

UP NEXT

• Salisbury will play the winner of the Endicott/Penn St. Berks elimination game on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
• Salisbury will advance to the NCAA Super Regionals with a win. If the Sea Gulls lose the opening game, the if-necessary game will follow at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference for men's and women's swimming. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, and dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on-and-off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 22 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 188 conference championships and 41 Academic All-Americans.

To learn more about the tradition of excellence with Sea Gull Athletics, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls.