No. 21 Salisbury breezes past Wesley in CAC opener
DOVER, Del. - The No. 21 Salisbury University softball team crushed Wesley College on Wednesday in a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader as the Sea Gulls won the first game 18-1 followed by a 16-1 victory both completed in five innings.
This was the conference opener for the Sea Gulls (15-4, 2-0 CAC) who found out today they are nationally ranked for the first time this season.
Salisbury junior catcher Lauren Brenneman batted a combined 5-for-6 in the two games as she scored five runs and recorded six RBIs. In the second game, Brenneman hit a double (1st inning), a triple (3rd inning) and a home run (4th inning) before she was lifted later in the fourth as SU batted around. She was a single short of the cycle.
The Sea Gulls scored nine runs in one inning in both games. In the first game SU pushed nine runs across in the top of the second inning. Senior outfielder Meaghan O'Gara (3-for-7 combined) hit a three-run home run in the second as she finished the day with four runs scored and five RBIs.
In the second game, Salisbury plated nine runs in the fourth inning. Brenneman slammed a three-run home run while All-American shortstop Kelly Waskewicz (3-for-8) had a two-run home run in the same inning. Junior first baseman Ali Ritter (4-for-6) scored a team-high six runs between the two games and knocked in five runs. She had two doubles in the first game.
Senior pitcher Stacy Davis (8-2) started the first game and pitched three scoreless innings where she struck out four Wolverines to earn the win. Davis also helped herself at the plate as she went 2-for-3, two runs scored and three RBIs. In the second game, sophomore Kelsey Mills (6-2) earned the victory as she also pitched three innings, allowed one run on one hit and struck out seven. Freshman pitcher Erika Brittingham closed out both games for the Sea Gulls as she combined to hurl four innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out five Wolverines.
The Sea Gulls had some other stars at the plate on Wednesday they include; senior second baseman Stacey Malarkey (2-for-7, four runs, two RBIs), junior outfielder Jen Cahall (5-for-9, three runs, five RBIs) and junior designated player Brittany Lounge (2-for-5, four runs, two RBIs).
Wesley (3-8, 0-4 CAC) scored a run in the fourth inning of the first game on a home run by third baseman Carmen Walsh and manufactured a run in the first inning of the second game.
Salisbury will next travel across the Bay Bridge to face Stevenson University in another CAC doubleheader on Saturday, March 28, at 1 p.m.
