Softball sweeps Washington (Md.) College with late-inning bursts

CHESTERTOWN, Md.  – The Salisbury University softball team earned two more wins on Sunday, to finish out a weekend of six wins in three days, taking down Washington (Md.) College, 12-1 and 11-1. The wins push Salisbury’s current winning streak to 13 games.

The first game remained close through the first four frames as the Sea Gulls could manage just two runs in the second inning on an RBI single by senior Rachel Hastings (Westborough, Mass.) and a run-scoring double by senior Kelly Waskewicz (Virginia Beach, Va.).

The 2-0 lead stood until the Salisbury offense really got clicking late in the game. The Sea Gulls scored a run in the fifth before blowing things open with three in the sixth and six runs in the top of the seventh. Hastings finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring three times while seniors Jen Cahall (Elkton, Md.), Lauren Brenneman (York, Pa.), Ali Ritter (Belvidere, N.J.) and Brittany Lounge (Pasadena, Md.) all had three hits in the game. Brenneman had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs while Cahall drove in three.

The offensive output made pitcher Kelly Leary (Severn, Md.) a winner for the seventh time this season. The junior allowed just the one run on two hits while walking one and striking out 10 batters.

In the second game it was more of the same as the score remained close until the Sea Gull bats exploded in the late innings. The game was tied 1-1 until Salisbury plated 10 runs in the sixth inning on eight hits and took advantage of three Shorewomen (6-6) errors.

 Lounge had two hits in the sixth inning, a single that advanced the game-winning run into scoring position and a double that drove home a run. In the game Lounge and freshmen Michelle Gravdahl (Ellicott City, Md.) and Carly Read (Baltimore, Md.) each had two hits. Read had an RBI triple that drove home Salisbury’s first run in the fifth inning, tying the game.

Sophomore Erika Brittingham (Georgetown, Del.) earned the win for the Sea Gulls (13-2), working five innings while allowing the one run on just three hits and striking out six batters.

Salisbury will get a couple days off before returning to the SU Softball Field to host Wesley College in a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday. It will mark the first of three straight CAC double dips.