SALISBURY, Md. – In fitting fashion for the new Home Run Queen of Sea Gull softball, an
Abby Mace home run sealed off a doubleheader victory for the second-ranked Salisbury University softball team, who completed a sweep over the Ursinus Bears, 5-0 and 9-0 in six innings, on Saturday afternoon at Margie Knight Sea Gull Softball Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
- The Sea Gulls got on the board early with Abby Mace singling, stealing second, and moving to third on an Emily Challender sacrifice bunt. Natalie Paoli then drove Mace in with a single to make it 1-0.
- After Sam Flowers tripled in the second, she found home on a Bears wild pitch to double up the Sea Gull runs column. Taking advantage of an Ursinus error moments later, Meghan Reed reached first and eventually scored on another error to put Salisbury up by three runs.
- In the sixth, Salisbury again struck off an Ursinus error. Challender and Reed were each hit by pitches, and Challender scored after Paoli reached on a misplay in left. Reed in turn came in on an error at third during a Carrie Jacoby at-bat, giving the Sea Gulls a five-run lead they would hold for the win.
SALISBURY GAME NOTES
- Abby Mace notched two hits, including a double, and also scored one run.
- Shortstop Natalie Paoli had two hits while knocking in the only Sea Gull RBI of the game as well.
- Meghan Reed scored a pair of runs.
- Starter Nicole Ortega (11-1) picked up her 11th win in the contest, striking out six in six shutout innings.
- Madison Taylor tossed a perfect seventh to finish off the shutout.
URSINUS GAME NOTES
- Leadoff hitter Sam Mallen had two hits and a stolen base.
- Christa Andruiewicz (5-8) took the loss for the Bears, giving up five runs (three earned) over all six innings in the circle.
GAME TWO
- Natalie Paoli brought the big lumber with two on in the first inning, belting a three-run homer to left field to give the Sea Gulls a big early cushion.
- In the second, Sam Flowers walked and Jillian Dawson singled, and Abby Mace stepped into the box two batters later looking for history. On an 0-1 pitch, Mace attacked a letter-high pitch and deposited it over the wall in left center for her 53rd career home run. As she stepped on home plate to give SU a 6-0 lead, she was met with a hug from head coach Lacey Lord, and her teammates formed a tunnel for her to walk through back to the dugout.
- Following up on her own first-inning shot, Paoli hit a solo bomb to center in the fifth to put the Sea Gulls up 7-0.
- Mace was not to be outdone, though, following up an Emily Challender single to lead off the sixth with another round-tripper, this time to dead central to invoke the run rule and seal a 9-0 victory.
SALISBURY GAME NOTES
- Entering the game tied with Kelly Waskewicz '10 for the program record, Abby Mace mashed her 53rd and 54th career home runs, finishing 2-for-3 with five RBIs. Mace now has six two-homer games in her career.
- Batting cleanup, Natalie Paoli turned in her own two-homer game, going 2-for-3 and picking up the other four rib-eyes.
- Emily Challender scored twice in front of Mace dingers, batting 1-for-3.
- Starter Isabella Purdy (9-0) remained perfect, picking up her ninth win of the season with three scoreless two-hit innings.
- Carly Angstadt put up two clean frames in relief, and Sydney Adolfson tossed a scoreless sixth.
URSINUS GAME NOTES
- Kayla Carr led the Bears with two hits, including a double.
- Miranda McIlvaine (3-5) took the loss for Ursinus, giving up six runs over four innings of work.
UP NEXT
- The Sea Gulls conclude the weekend with a doubleheader against York (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon.
- Game one is set for 1:30 p.m., with game two to follow.
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.
