SALISBURY, Md. – The second-ranked Salisbury University softball team picked up its first win of the 2024 season with a 4-2 victory over the Messiah Falcons in a game that began on Friday afternoon and finished on Saturday morning at Margie Knight Sea Gull Softball Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Emily Stockman ignited the offense in the bottom of the fourth inning with a one-out triple and was promptly driven in on a Meghan Reed single for the Sea Gulls' first run of the season.
• The Falcons promptly answered in the top of the fifth. Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Allie Book, who pegged a two-out two-run single into left to put Messiah in front 2-1.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Sam Flowers drew a lead off walk to put a runner on. Two batters later, Abby Mace showed her power with a two-run home run over Division Street to put SU back up 3-2.

SB: No. 2 @SalisburySB 4, Messiah 2 (FINAL)

Approximately 21 hours after this go-ahead blast from Abby Mace, the Sea Gulls are victorious in their first game of the season!#GoGulls | #d3softball pic.twitter.com/km9xPk2PjJ

— Salisbury Athletics (@SUSeaGulls) February 24, 2024

• Following a prolonged rain delay that saw the game suspended and the final two innings moved to Saturday, the Sea Gulls continued their offensive output in the bottom of the sixth. Flowers singled with two out and Natalie Paoli doubled to left center to bring her home and make it 4-2.
• Sophomore Madison Taylor would pitch two innings in relief of Nicole Ortega, with Taylor picking up her first save of the season and Ortega her first win in 2024.
• Madison Taylor coaxed the final three outs from there, the last two coming on a double play lineout to short.

 
SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Abby Mace homered on Opening Day for the third time in her career, finished 1-for-4 with the go-ahead two-run blast in the fifth. Mace's 46 career home runs are second in Sea Gull history and just six back of the record of 52 held by Kelly Waskewicz '10.
• Sam Flowers went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs. She also showed off a cannon from left field, throwing out a runner at home on an attempted sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth.
• Meghan Reed and Natalie Paoli each drove in a run.
• Nicole Ortega (1-0) earned a win in her first start of the year, allowing two runs on seven hits over five innings with two walks and one strikeout.
• Madison Taylor converted his first save with two scoreless frames.
• Four of Salisbury's nine hits went for extra bases.

MESSIAH GAME NOTES

• Allie Book went 2-for-4 with both of the Falcons' RBIs for the day.
• Alexa Burger and Hannah Dyer combined to go 3-for-4 with two runs from the top of the Messiah lineup.
• Lydia Collison (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in six frames.

UP NEXT

• Salisbury returns to the diamond on Sunday for a doubleheader against Rochester, who split a pair of games against Messiah on Saturday afternoon.
• Game 1 is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Margie Knight Stadium with Game 2 to follow.

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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 men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 197 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.