GREENSBORO, N.C. – The second-ranked Salisbury University baseball team capped its stay at the D3 Showcase with a 7-6 win over the eighth-ranked Marietta Pioneers on Sunday afternoon at First National Bank Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pioneers drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning. Alex Richter lashed a one-out triple and came home on a Ben Kaplin double. Kaplin in turn scored on an RBI single by Ty Davis to put MC on top 2-0.
• The Sea Gulls got all of that back and then some in the top of the fourth. Danny Sheeler singled with two out, then after back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Tim Petrucelli blasted a grand slam to right field, vaulting SU ahead 4-2.
• Marietta got one back in the home fourth on a Kaplin double, groundout, and a mishandled grounder to third off the bat of Cole Rieman to make it 4-3.
• Adam Tommer led off the fifth with a single and Max Ehrhardt was hit by a pitch. After a sac bunt moved the runners up, Alex Seidleck pegged a grounder that ate up the first baseman, scoring both runners and increasing the Sea Gull lead to 6-3.
• SU put one more on the board in the top of the seventh. Kyle Brex doubled to lead off, then after a groundout and an intentional walk to Sheeler put men on the corners, Ben Anderson laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to plate Brex and make it 7-3.
• The Etta Express came roaring back in the bottom of the seventh. With one out and two on after an error and a hit batsman, Richter powered a two-run double to left center. Kaplin followed with a base knock to plate Richter and bring MC within 7-6.
• Salisbury reliever Shawn Rosemond stopped the bleeding from there, though, forcing Ty Davis to fly out to left and Rieman to tap out to the mound to end the threat.
• The Sea Gulls caught a break during Marietta's last gasp in the bottom of the ninth. With men on first and second and one out, Davis put one in play to the right side that struck pinch-runner Shane Rothlisberger, rendering the runner out and forcing the lead runner to stay at second while granting Davis a single.
• After a wild pitch moved the tying and winning runs into scoring position, Rosemond forced Rieman to fly out to left, preserving the one-run victory for SU.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Tim Petrucelli finished 2-for-4 with a double and a grand slam for his second home run of the year.
• Alex Seidleck and Ben Anderson each drove in a run for the Sea Gulls.
• Kyle Brex went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
• Benji Thalheimer (1-0) battled for the win after lasting 6.1 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
• Shawn Rosemond secured his second save with 2.2 scoreless two-hit innings.
• Salisbury is now 4-2 all-time against six-time national champion Marietta. The Sea Gulls last met the Etta Express at the 2022 NCAA Baseball Championship, pulling out a 7-5 win in 11 innings en route to a berth in the final series.

MARIETTA GAME NOTES

• Alex Richter finished 2-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs, and two RBIs to pace the Pioneers.
• Ben Kaplin doubled twice, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Ty Davis went 3-for-5 with a run driven in.
• Braden Shepherd (0-1) surrendered six runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks in a 4.1-inning losing effort.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls return home to start a seven-game homestand against 14th-ranked Rowan on Saturday afternoon.
• First pitch from Donnie Williams Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

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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.