Softball earns two wins on first day of Sea Gull Classic

SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University softball team put together runs late against Denison University on Friday in a pair of games to get through the first day of the Sea Gull Classic with two wins, topping the Big Red 6-0 and 3-1. The wins give the Sea Gulls nine straight.

Salisbury got a dominant pitching performance in the first game from junior Kelly Leary (Severn, Md.), who worked all seven innings, allowing just three Big Red hits and striking out 11. The Sea Gulls needed Leary’s strong game as the contest remained scoreless through the first four innings.

A single by senior Ali Ritter (Belvidere, N.J.) with two outs in the fifth brought in the winning run, plating Rachel Hastings (Westborough, Mass.). Salisbury went on to put up five runs in the bottom of the sixth, off three hits and a pair of Denison errors. Seniors Kelly Waskewicz (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Lauren Brenneman (York, Pa.) each drove in two runs in the inning.

Denison was limited at the plate in the second game as well. Sophomore pitcher Erika Brittingham (Georgetown, Del.) held the Big Red (3-5) to just one run in seven innings of work. She allowed five hits while walking two and striking out three.

Salisbury took the early lead as freshman Michelle Gravdahl (Ellicott City, Md.) drove home Ritter in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Denison would match the single run in the third to tie the game, but the Salisbury offense was too strong, plating runs in the sixth and seventh for the victory.

Gravdahl scored the game-winning run in the sixth, coming home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Amanda DeMoine (Baltimore, Md.).

The Sea Gull Classic will conclude on Saturday. Four games will be played beginning at 9 a.m. Salisbury will be in action at 1 and 3 p.m., playing No. 13 Capital University and King’s (Pa.) College. Capital won the first two games on Friday.