Box Score NEEDHAM, Mass. – Powered by an offensive onslaught in the first inning, Salisbury University defeated UMass Dartmouth in the second elimination game of that NCAA Division III Tournament Regionals on Saturday at Govoni Field. The Gulls – ranked ninth in the nation – move to 30-10 on the season with the 9-0 win, and advance to Sunday's regional championship where they must win two games over Mitchell College. The Corsairs conclude their outstanding season with a 25-20-1 record.
Salisbury broke open the game early as grad student center fielder Kyle Brex just beat out the throw to first from UMass Dartmouth shortstop
Cooper Wixon. Another chopper up the middle, this time from right fielder Tim Petrucelli to put runners on first and second with one out. Another single up the middle from Danny Sheeler brought home a run for the quick 1-0 advantage against Corsairs hurler
Ryan Qualey.
The Corsairs faced a bases loaded situation as senior catcher Zach Geesaman dropped in a shot to right to load them up, while rookie shortstop Trent Waire was walked on four straight pitches to bring another run across for the 2-0 lead. Qualey got a critical strikeout against designated hitter Roman March, but another run came across as senior left fielder Adam Tommer singled to third to score Sheeler for the 3-0 margin.
Next up saw sophomore third baseman Max Ehrhardt send a shot up the middle, bringing home two runs, as a single from junior center fielder Andrew Kell into right field made it a 6-0 lead after the top of the first.
Heading into the bottom of the first, the Corsairs saw two on with one out after walks to both sophomore center fielder
Brett Baker and grad student designated hitter
Joe Muzio. Despite the momentum, the visiting Gulls were able to get the force out at third and a bulleted shot over to first from Ehrhardt ended the inning for UMass Dartmouth.
In the top of the second, a single to left center by Waire drove in another run with two outs on the board, but the Corsairs were able to retire the side with the Gulls taking a 7-0 lead.
The top of the third saw the Corsairs facing another two runners on situation as Tommer walked and later stole second, followed by a hit-by-pitch to Ehrhardt. After double-steal, the Corsairs intentionally walked Kell to load the bases, getting out of the jam with a double-play and a fly to right from Petricelli.
The Gulls continued to press into the fourth as a single to center from March drove home Sheeler to make it an 8-0 game. The Corsairs finally got their first hit onto the scoreboard as grad student and right fielder
Anthony Keefe drilled the ball down the left field line. Senior first baseman TJ Keefe was then hit by a pitch to put runners on with two outs on the board. Salisbury got the final out on a liner to center by Wixon into the glove of Kell.
The Corsairs threatened again in the bottom of the sixth as Muzio drove a single to left and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Next to the plate was senior third baseman
Andrew Possi, who reached on an error as Muzio moved to third to bring up senior left fielder
Matthew Klett. Despite the momentum on the bases, Klett's well-hit ball to center was caught for the final out.
UMass Dartmouth had an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth with runners on, but Salisbury's Benji Thalheimer continued to deliver, retiring the side to send the visitors into the final inning with a 9-0 lead.
Salisbury was paced by Sheeler, who went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Waire was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in, while Ehrhardt was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Eight different Gulls recorded a hit in Saturday's contest. On the mound, Thalheimer went distance, going 9.0 innings with just four hits allowed and no runs surrendered. He gave up just four walks and recorded four strikeouts.
For the Corsairs, both
Anthony Keefe and TJ Keefe posted a hit, while Muzio and sophomore center fielder
Brett Baker each added hits. On the mound, UMass Dartmouth starter Qualey went 2.0 innings, allowing seven runs (3 earned) on eight hits. He recorded a strikeout and walked three batters. Sophomore
Seamus Marshall came on in relief, pitching 5.0 solid innings as he allowed one run on three hits with four K's. Classmate
Geordan Jackson Murphy and senior
Kevin Moszkowicz each came on in relief over the final two innings for the Corsairs.
