Coach Knight wins her 400th career game
SALISBURY, Md. - Salisbury University softball coach Margie Knight joined an elite group on Saturday afternoon as her Sea Gulls defeated University of Mary Washington 9-0 in the first round of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament here at Sea Gull Field before 250.
The top-seed Sea Gulls (26-7) scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to give SU the commanding nine run lead. The Eagles (24-18) went quietly in the fifth, one double, as Salisbury celebrated the milestone win for Coach Knight.
"I had no idea this was going to happen today," said Knight afterwards, where there were several presentations made to her on behalf of the University. "Reaching 400 wins means we have had a lot of super and talented student-athletes."
Knight becomes the 34th NCAA Division III softball coach ever to win 400 games. Her career record is now 400-103-2 in 11 seasons here at Salisbury. Knight's winning percentage of .796 ranks fourth all-time in Division III and 10th all-time in NCAA history in any division. Knight has led the Sea Gulls to 10 straight Capital Athletic Conference championships and 10 trips to the NCAA tournament. In addition, SU has made five appearances in the College World Series where they were national runner-ups in 2003 and 2005.
Knight attributed a lot of Salisbury's success over the years to her long time assistant coach Dr. Tom Stitcher.
In the game, SU junior pitcher Kirsten Wells (13-5) threw a complete game two-hitter. Wells struck out one batter in the game. Freshman Ali Ritter (2-for-2) plated a game-high three RBIs in the game, including a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Nichole Fuqua (1-for-2) had a two-run single in the same inning. Salisbury scored a run in every inning.
The Sea Gulls will face No. 3 seed Catholic University today at 4 p.m. Mary Washington turns around to play No. 2 seed York (Pa.) College in an elimination game at 2 p.m. The CAC tournament will continue tomorrow (Sunday, April 22) where the 2007 conference champion will be crowned.
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NCAA Division III Softball All-Time Coaching Records | |||||
| Name | Wins | Losses | Ties |
Yrs. | School(s) |
| 1. Donna Newberry | 806 | 366 | 1 | 33 | Muskingum |
| 2. George Wares | 776 | 250 | 3 | 23 | Central (Iowa) |
| 3. June Walker* | 721 | 154 | 0 | 22 | The College of New Jersey |
| 4. Bob Timmons | 675 | 275 | 0 | 22 | Coe/Mount Mercy |
| 5. Karla Wolters | 617 | 337 | 0 | 29 | Hope |
| 6. Charlotte Slocum | 601 | 273 | 0 | 27 | Misericordia |
| 7. Dee Dee Enabenter-Omidiji# | 581 | 360 | 3 | 22 | Bridgewater (Mass.)/San Jose St. |
| 8. Denny Griffin | 576 | 189 | 0 | 19 | Alma |
| 9. Marge Willadsen | 559 | 417 | 2 | 27 | Buena Vista |
| 10. Hallie Cohen | 533 | 323 | 3 | 28 | William Patterson/FDU-Florham |
| 11. Anita Kubicka | 534 | 197 | 2 | 17 | Montclair St. |
| 12. Jan Forsty | 520 | 314 | 4 | 25 | Bethany (WVa.) |
| Betty Hoff* | 520 | 349 | 1 | 33 | Luther |
| 13. Deb Pallozzi | 515 | 272 | 1 | 21 | Ithaca/Rensselaer |
| 14. Jim Kulawiak | 513 | 214 | 3 | 19 | North Central (Ill.) |
| 15. Gina Loudenburg | 501 | 185 | 3 | 18 | Wheaton (Mass.) |
| 16. Julie Lenhart | 497 | 252 | 1 | 18 | SUNY Cortland/Wis.-Platteville |
| 17. Charlie Beach | 492 | 315 | 5 | 22 | Keene State |
| 18. Sandy Douglas | 485 | 301 | 0 | 22 | Mount Union |
| 19. John Tschida | 481 | 85 | 0 | 13 | St. Thomas (Minn.) |
| 20. Len Maiorani | 479 | 230 | 9 | 20 | St. John Fisher |
| 21. Sandy Hollander | 446 | 261 | 2 | 19 | Buffalo State |
| 22. Dennis Johnson | 445 | 219 | 3 | 21 | St. Benedict |
| 23. Kris Herman | 441 | 210 | 3 | 20 | Williams |
| 24. Robin Hamilton | 438 | 278 | 3 | 21 | Puget Sound |
| 25. John Byrne | 429 | 139 | 0 | 14 | Moravian |
| 26. Gayle Lauth* | 425 | 317 | 2 | 33 | Ohio Northern |
| Janet Lloyd | 425 | 141 | 0 | 13 | Chapman |
| 27. Alicia O'Brien^ | 423 | 213 | 3 | 17 | Western Connecticut State |
| 28. Kathy Mangano | 421 | 349 | 1 | 18 | Springfield |
| 29. Larry Holloway | 420 | 500 | 0 | 24 | Anderson (Ind.) |
| 30. Dick Bailey | 401 | 264 | 1 | 23 | Colby/Westbrook/St. Joseph's |
| 31. Margie Knight | 400 | 103 | 2 | 11 | Salisbury |
| Kim Wilson | 400 | 178 | 0 | 17 | Rowan/Washington & Jefferson |
* Retired
^ Now an associate head coach at Central (Iowa)
# Now coaching at the Division I level
Records good as of 4.20.07
