Baseball

SALISBURY, Md. - The three-game Capital Athletic Conference series between No. 20 Salisbury University and Villa Julie College could not end quick enough for the Mustangs. The Sea Gulls (11-1, 4-0 CAC) swept the Mustangs (8-8-1, 1-5 CAC) on back-to-back days in the home and home series.

Salisbury outscored Villa Julie 38-5 as the Gulls scored 17 runs for the second straight day. SU won the first game 4-1 in seven innings and followed with a 17-3 win in nine. The Gulls defeated the Mustangs 17-1 on Wednesday.

Sophomore first baseman Mike Celenza combined to bat 5-for-8, three runs scored, two home runs and seven RBIs on Thursday afternoon at Sea Gull Field. Celenza blasted both round trippers in the second game. His first homer, a three-run shot, left the yard in the third inning as it cleared the 400 foot sign in center field. His second homer came in the sixth inning as he clubbed a two-run shot to right center field.

The Sea Gulls scored at least one run in every inning against the Mustangs in the second game except the first inning. The maroon and gold plated four runs in the second and pushed across six in the third and never looked back. SU starting pitcher Dustin Herbert (3-0) picked up the win as he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed one Mustang run in the fourth, seven hits on four walks and struck out eight.   

SU has won 11 straight games since it dropped the season-opener to Virginia Wesleyan as the Gulls are a perfect 10-0 at home.

In the first game, Salisbury scored three times in the first inning and freshman Andrew Miller hit his third home run of the season to lead off the fifth inning. The four runs was enough support for junior pitcher Eric Willey (3-0) who pitched a complete seven-inning game for the Sea Gulls. Willey gave up a VJC home run in the sixth as he allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight to earn the win.

Salisbury had several notable performances at the plate in both games led by junior Jordan Crystal (5-for-10, three runs, three RBIs), junior Randy Boyle (3-for-7, four runs, a double, one RBI), senior Tyler Riley (2-for-5, two runs, a triple, one RBI), senior Brian Camper (2-for-5, two runs, a double, two RBIs) and senior Justin Armiger (2-for-7, one run, a double, one RBI).

Salisbury will prepare to head to Cocoa, Fla., for next week's Spring Break trip where the Sea Gulls will play three neutral site games starting on Monday morning against Medaille.