NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The fourth-ranked and second-seeded Salisbury University softball team advanced to the championship round of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Tournament with a 4-2 win over the Mary Washington Eagles but dropped a heartbreaking 10-inning affair, 3-2, against the hosting Christopher Newport Captains on Saturday afternoon at Captains Park.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE

• The Eagles notched the game's opening tally in the top of the first inning. Shelby Presgrave drew a one-out walk, then after a groundout Bridget Laychak singled her home to put UMW on top 1-0.
• The Sea Gulls drew even in the third as Jillian Dawson singled and came around to score on an error, flyout, and Meghan Reed base hit to knot it at 1-1.
• In the fourth, Carrie Jacoby led off with a walk and pinch-runner Anna Hopkins promptly stole second base. After another walk and a sac bunt, Lindsey Windsor executed a go-ahead squeeze bunt, and Abby Mace followed with an RBI single to give SU a 3-1 lead.
• Salisbury added one more in the fifth as Natalie Paoli singled with one out, stole second, and came home on a double by Jacoby to make it 4-1.
• Emily Angel belted a solo home run to lead off the seventh and make it 4-2, and Emma Schieda doubled to bring the tying run to bat for the Eagles. Nicole Ortega came in from the bullpen to shut it down, though, getting Caitlyn Burch to hit into a double play and coaxing a popout to the catcher for the final out.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Carrie Jacoby sparked the Sea Gulls at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
• Natalie Paoli and Jillian Dawson each racked up two hits and scored a run.
• Abby Mace and Meghan Reed notched one rib-eye apiece.
• Sydney Adolfson (7-1) tossed 5.1 strong innings in relief for the win, giving up one run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
• Nicole Ortega recorded her second save by getting the final three outs against just two batters.
• Isabella Purdy lasted a third of an inning in her start, giving up one run on one hit and two walks.

MARY WASHINGTON GAME NOTES

• Emily Angel went yard for a solo home run to put a charge in the Eagles.
• Bridget Laychak finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• Caitlyn Burch (11-10) went all six innings in a losing effort, giving up four runs on eight hits with three walks and three punchouts.

GAME TWO

• The Sea Gulls scratched across a run in the top of the third inning. Emily Stockman led off with a double, then three batters later Meghan Reed laced her own double to score pinch-runner Camille Jones and put SU ahead 1-0.
• Salisbury doubled its lead in the top of the fifth as Abby Mace tagged a solo home run to left to make it 2-0.
• The Captains struck back in the home fifth. With two out and the bases juiced after three walks, Brooke Greaver grooved a two-run single into center to knot it up at 2-2. CNU had a chance for more by loading the bases again, but Jules Donnelly popped out to second to end the threat.
• Neither side could move in front through the end of the seventh and the game went into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth and ninth, CNU put things in motion in the bottom of the 10th. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, then Caroline Pollock singled into center to score Delaney Nuckols with the title-winning run.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Abby Mace slugged her fourth home run of the C2C Tournament, finishing 1-for-3 with the solo blast and two walks. The dinger was Mace's 64th for her career and 19th this season, establishing a new career high and Sea Gull single-season record.
• Meghan Reed finished 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Emily Stockman went 2-for-4 with a double.
• Nicole Ortega (16-4) endured another hard-luck defeat after giving up one run on six hits over five innings to finish the game.
• Lindsey Windsor lasted 4.1 innings in her start, surrendering two runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
• Salisbury falls to 0-4 against the Captains at CNU this season, including three straight one-run losses.

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT GAME NOTES

• Caroline Pollock finished 1-for-5 with the championship-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
• Brooke Greaver went 4-for-5 with two RBIs.
• Delaney Nuckols scored the winning run and finished 1-for-5.
• Kate Alger (14-4) pitched all 10 innings for the Captains, allowing two runs on six hits with four walks and nine strikeouts in the complete-game gem.
• None of CNU's four wins over Salisbury this season came by more than three runs.

UP NEXT

• The Sea Gulls will learn of their postseason destination and opponent during the NCAA Division III Selection Show, which will be streamed live on Monday at 11 a.m. on NCAA.com.
• SU is seeking to qualify for its 26th NCAA Tournament all-time in pursuit of a third consecutive berth in the Division III World Series.

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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, 199 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.