College baseball roundup: Maryland eliminated from NCAA regional on George Mason’s walk-off; Salisbury softball advances

Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun
Updated ·4 min read

Here’s a roundup of local college baseball action on Sunday, June 4:

Division I

George Mason 11, Maryland 10: The Terps (42-21) were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament regional in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after George Mason won on a walk-off sacrifice fly.

The pitching struggled on both sides in Sunday’s elimination game as the teams combined to used nine pitchers. Maryland starter Ryan Van Buren didn’t make it out of the first inning, giving up three runs on three hits.

The Terps got their bats going in the top of the third, scoring five runs to take the lead. Kevin Keister started the rally with a solo home run. After, a single, Matt Shaw hit a game-tying two-run home run. The Terps tacked on two more in the frame. Elijah Lambros, the ninth Maryland batter to come to the plate in the inning, singled in two runs to give the Terps their first lead of the afternoon.

They added to their lead in the fourth with Nick Lorusso and Eddie Hacopian each producing RBI doubles, and Maryland was seemingly in control up 8-3.

However, George Mason erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. Andrew Johnson, who retired seven straight batters after taking over for Van Buren in the first, ran into trouble with his command. He walked the bases loaded with two outs, then gave up an infield single and walked in a run before being removed in favor of Nigel Belgrave. Belgrave, however, gave up a two-run single and a three-run home run.

Maryland tied it at 10 in the top of the sixth on a two-run home run by Matt Woods, but George Mason held the Terps off the board, including leaving the bases loaded in the top of the ninth before winning it in the bottom half.

Division III

East Texas Baptist 21, Salisbury 7: The second-seeded Sea Gulls were eliminated from the College World Series with a second loss to the Tigers, who also beat Salisbury in the World Series opener.

Salisbury got off to a great start with six runs in the top of the first. Danny Sheeler homered to start the scoring and Scott Cameron and Patrick Campbell each added two-run hits. They bumped the lead to 7-0 on an RBI single from Stephen Rice in the second.

The Tigers began their rally with three runs in the bottom of the second and one in the third, before erupting for five runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

They tacked on three in the sixth and one more in the seventh before closing out the offensive outburst with a three-run home run in the eighth.

Division III softball

Salisbury 7, Berry 2: The No. 1 seed Sea Gulls topped No. 5 seed Vikings to force a winner-take-all game to close bracket play at the College World Series in Marshall, Texas.

Salisbury took a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run by Lindsey Windsor in the top of the fourth, only to have Berry answer right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

But the Sea Gulls broke the game open with five runs in the sixth inning. Carrie Jacoby brought home a run on a fielder’s choice before Natalie Paoli singled in two runs. Emily Stockman closed the scoring with a two-run double.

Windsor won her 18th game of the year in the circle. She threw five innings, allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Savannah Sheats closed the game throwing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Salisbury 5, Berry 4: The Sea Gulls rallied from a 4-0 deficit after six innings, tying the game in the seventh and winning it in the eighth to advance to the Division III championship series.

After Salisbury held the Vikings scoreless in the top of the eight, Emily Stockman led off the bottom of the eighth with a single. Pinch runner Taylor Scott moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored the winning run on a walk-off single by Lauren Meyers.

All four runs in the bottom of the seventh came with two outs. Lindsey Windsor walked to load the bases and Carrie Jacoby cleared the bases with a double to get Salisbury within 4-3. Natalie Paoli singled and moved to second on a throwing error, as pinch runner McKenna Horner scored the tying run.

Savannah Sheats picked up the win in relief, her 14th win of the season. She pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out three.

Salisbury plays in the best-of-three championship series starting Tuesday against either Trine or Coe, who play Monday.