No. 18 Salisbury pitches back-to-back no-hitters against Gallaudet
SALISBURY, Md. - Senior pitcher Stacy Davis and freshman pitcher Erika Brittingham combined to throw a perfect game for No. 18 Salisbury University in a 23-0 defeat of Gallaudet University in a five-inning Capital Athletic Conference game Tuesday afternoon at Sea Gull Field. In the second game, sophomore pitcher Kelsey Mills and Brittingham combined to throw a no-hitter in a 16-0 victory.
Salisbury (25-4, 10-0 CAC) swept its sixth straight doubleheader as the Sea Gulls have won 21 straight. The two no-hitters today ups Salisbury's season total to five. Also, SU has eight shutouts to its credit this season.
Davis (13-2) recorded her 13th win of the season in grand fashion as the senior was in complete command for three innings as she struck out five. Brittingham (five strikeouts) completed the final two innings for the Gulls. At the plate the story was much of the same as the Gulls used a team effort to dismantle the Bison (4-20, 1-9 CAC) as 10 players drove in at least one run. Salisbury, who leads Division III for home runs per game, blasted four off Bison starter Paige Johnson. Junior first baseman Ali Ritter (2-for-2, two runs) led the way for the Gulls hitting a grand slam in the first inning. Left fielder Amanda DeMoine (3-for-4, three runs) did not disappoint in her third start of the season as the junior hit a home run and drove in four runs. Junior Brittany Lounge was two-for-two at the plate with three RBIs. Infielders Stacey Malarkey (2-for-4, four RBIs) and Kristin Lord (2-for-4, one RBI) each had a home run apiece for the Gulls. Malarkey's home run in the third inning was a grand slam. Juniors Kelly Waskewicz (two RBIs, three runs) and Jen Cahall (four runs, one RBI) each collected three hits in the game. Mandy Knight (1-for-2), Lauren Brenneman (2-for-3, two RBIs) and Davis had the other RBIs. SU scored nine runs in the first inning and had 21 hits in the win. The 23 runs scored are the most this season for the maroon and gold and the margin of victory is the most SU has recorded this season.
In second game between the two teams, Mills (10-2) notched her 10th victory of the season as she hurled three innings where she struck out five and walked two. Brittingham came in to pitch the final two innings as she struck out four Bison batters and walked two. For the day, Brittingham pitched four innings of scoreless ball as she combined to strikeout nine. Malarkey led the way for the Sea Gulls at the plate as she went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, highlighted by a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Malarkey leads the team with nine home runs. Brenneman and Lord each drove in three runs. Lord hit a three-run home run over the centerfield fence. Lounge (two RBIs), Ritter (2-for-3, two RBIs), Waskewicz (3-for-4, one RBI) and Mills (one RBI) all knocked in runs for the Sea Gulls. Cahall and DeMoine each had two hits in the shutout victory. Gallaudet pitcher Alicia Balzer took the loss in the second game.
The Sea Gulls will wrap up the CAC regular season schedule on Saturday, April 11, at York (Pa.) College for a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. The twin bill will have huge implications on the upcoming CAC tournament as the Sea Gulls will try to hold off the Spartans (21-7, 7-1 CAC), who have the chance to tie or take the regular-season crown.
