NEEDHAM, Mass. – Salisbury University used strong efforts in the bottom half of three innings, building up a solid lead for a 7-0 victory over UMass Dartmouth in the opening game of the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament Regional at Babson's Govoni Field. The Gulls improve to 29-9 on the season and advance to Saturday's 11am winner's bracket game against the winner of Babson versus Mitchell.
The Corsairs are now 24-19-1 overall and will play in Saturday's 8:30am elimination game against the loser of the contest between the Beavers and the Mariners.
Despite a lead-off double from junior center fielder
Brett Baker, the Corsairs were unable to get a run across in the opening frame as Salisbury hurler Tyler Villa struck out junior second baseman
Devyn Vezina, while graduate student and first baseman
Joe Muzio lined out to left.
Junior outfielder Andrew Kell led off the bottom of the first, drawing a walk against UMass Dartmouth starter
Adam Maher. With one out on the board, senior Danny Sheeler stepped up to the plate, knocking in his seventh home run of the season down the right field line for a 2-0 lead.
After a quiet top half of the inning for the Corsairs, the Sea Gulls jumped out again as senior leftfielder Adam Tommer laid down a successful bunt, then advanced to third on a single to right by senior catcher Zach Geesaman. Salisbury drove two more runs across as a sacrifice grounder by Ehrhardt brought Tommer home, while a throwing error by rookie shortstop
Cooper Wixon saw Geesaman come in for the 4-0 advantage.
Two scoreless innings gave way to a three-run bottom of the fifth for the Gulls as a single up the middle from grad student and second baseman Kyle Brex drove in a pair of runs for a 6-0 margin. Salisbury added an RBI-single from rookie shortstop Trent Waire, knocking the Corsairs starter out of the game.
Salisbury took the 7-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, threatening with a pair of runners on before an outstanding double play ended the threat heading into the top of the eighth for the Corsairs.
Despite a lead-off double from senior left fielder
Matthew Klett, the Corsairs were unable to get a run across in the top of the eighth and the Gulls continued to hold on for the 7-0 victory.
For Salisbury, Brex went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Sheeler was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI with a double and a home run. On the mound, Villa earned the win with three hits and no-runs allowed over 7.0 innings of work. He struck out five batters. Rookie right hander Cole Williams came on in relief, going 2.0 innings while allowing one hit with three strikeouts.
UMass Dartmouth saw Klett go 1-for-3 with a double, while Tempone was also 1-for-3 with a double. On the hill, Maher went 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs (5 earned) on eight hits. He walked two batters and struck out one in his NCAA debut. Senior right-hander Kevin Moszkowic came on in relief, going 1.2 innings with two strikeouts, before giving way to senior righty
Chase Carey, who finished with one hit allowed over 2.0 innings.
