Salisbury stuns No. 7 DePauw, 6-1
SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University softball team celebrated their home opener on Sunday morning in the rain with a 6-1 upset victory over No. 7 DePauw University.
Salisbury scored four runs in the final three innings of play to pull away from the Tigers to secure the Sea Gulls' third win over a nationally ranked opponent this season. DePauw (6-2) bounced back in the second game to defeat SUNY Plattsburgh 9-1 in six innings. SU was slated to play SUNY Plattsburgh (3-8) in the third and final game on Sunday but strong rain showers and poor field conditions caused the game to be postponed.
The Sea Gulls (8-4) scored the first two runs of the contest in the bottom of the second inning as the Tigers made three errors in the field. Junior first baseman Ali Ritter reached base on an error as sophomore Taylor Webb came in to pinch run. Webb moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kelsey Mills (one run) and then to third base as senior Stacy Davis (one run) reached on a fielding error by DePauw's left fielder Kaitlyn Davitt. Salisbury had runners on the corners as junior outfielder Jen Cahall (3-for-3, one run, three RBIs) stepped to the plate. Cahall singled to score Webb and move Davis to second. SU would load the bases as DePauw starting pitcher Megan Soultz walked sophomore third baseman Kristin Lord to force in a run and give SU a 2-0 lead.
DePauw got a run back in the top of the third inning. Davis (4-2), Salisbury's pitcher, walked two Tiger batters before shortstop Brianne Weeks had an infield single to score Davitt from third base.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Salisbury added to its lead when Cahall tripled to left field and senior outfielder Meaghan O'Gara singled through the left side to give the Sea Gulls a 3-1 lead.
An inning later the Sea Gulls added two more runs off the bat of Cahall. Junior catcher Lauren Brenneman (one run) doubled to left field to get the Gulls started. SU worked the bases loaded off of Soultz. Cahall brought in two runs on a single to center to make the score 5-1 in favor of Salisbury.
SU continued to play smart out in the field as the Tigers could not score for the remainder of the game. Davis held DePauw in-check as she pitched the complete game and allowed one run on two hits, walked five and struck out four batters.
The Sea Gulls tacked on an additional run in the sixth inning as senior second baseman Stacey Malarkey singled up the middle to plate junior shortstop Kelly Waskewicz (2-for-4).
Soultz suffered the loss as she allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits, walked four and struck out two. Last season, the Tigers only lost four games as DePauw posted an impressive 40-4 mark.
Salisbury will make up its game with SUNY Plattsburgh on Thursday, March 19, at 1 p.m. at Sea Gull Field.
