NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The second-ranked and second-seeded Salisbury University softball team looks to repeat as Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Champions as the Sea Gulls begin the title defense on Thursday against the third-seeded Mary Washington Eagles on Thursday, May 5. The opening game is slated to begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday. The three-day tournament will be held at Captains Park in Newport News, Va.
THE SCHEDULE (DOUBLE ELIMINATION)
Thursday, May 5
G1: 2 PM - #2 Salisbury vs. #3 Mary Washington | LIVE STATS | VIDEO
G2: 4:30 PM - #1 Christopher Newport vs. G1 Winner | LIVE STATS | VIDEO
Friday, May 6
G3: 2 PM - G1 Loser vs. G2 Loser | LIVE STATS | VIDEO
G4: 4:30 PM - G2 Winner vs. G3 Winner | LIVE STATS | VIDEO
Saturday, May 7
G5: 1 PM - If necessary | LIVE STATS | VIDEO
HOW WE GOT HERE
- Salisbury finished the regular season with a 34-4 record and a 2-2 record against C2C opponents. The Sea Gulls swept the Eagles at home on April 9 before dropping a doubleheader at CNU on April 20.
THE 2022 SEA GULLS
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
- Salisbury has been dominant at Sea Gull Softball Stadium. Dating back to the 2020 season, Salisbury has won 50 consecutive games at home with a 24-0 record in 2022.
- At home, Salisbury has outscored opponents 176-17 with a .376 batting average, 30 home runs and 229 hits. The Sea Gulls have also pitched 14 shutouts with 22 games with opponents scoring less than two runs.
- Nine of the 24 wins at home were run rules.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
- According to the latest regional rankings, Salisbury has the toughest schedule in the region with a .618 in-division strength of schedule.
- Salisbury has a 10-4 record on the road, including a 4-2 record at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Leadoff Classic on March 4-6 with ranked wins over Eastern Conn. St. and Piedmont.
- Salisbury also has ranked wins over Rochester, Virginia Wesleyan and Susquehanna.
THE INNER-CIRCLE
- Led by back-to-back C2C Pitcher of the Year, Lindsey Windsor, Salisbury has three pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA with Windsor, Savannah Sheats and Nicole Ortega.
- Windsor and Sheats are tied for the C2C lead in wins with 14.
- As a team, Salisbury sits second in the nation in shutouts (18), fifth in WHIP (0.92) and seventh in ERA (1.31).
THE POWER PLANT
- One of the most prolific offenses in Division III, Salisbury is in the top-20 in the country in several offensive categories including home runs per game (1.13), home runs (43), slugging percentage (.581), hits (353), batting average (.355) and runs scored (254).
- Back-to-back C2C Player of the Year Abby Mace leads the C2C in on-base percentage (.581), runs scored (53) and slugging percentage (1.073). She also sits second in the conference in home runs (14), RBIs (41) batting average (.477), triples (6) and hits (52). In Division III, Mace leads the country in total bases (117) and is in the top-10 in home runs, home runs per game, runs per game, slugging percentage and triples
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
The winner of the C2C Championship Series will earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for Monday, May 9 at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.
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, 186 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.
