The University of Mary Washington baseball team split its Monday doublehader at 12th ranked Salisbury University, falling 11-6 in the opener before rolling to a 23-6 win in the nightcap. The game two win was the Eagles' third this season against a top-15 opponent, and improves UMW's record to 20-10 on the year.
In the opener, Salisbury scored three runs in the first on a three-run homer, before UMW answered with two runs in the top of the second inning. James Keller and Kyle Bynum produced back-to-back singles before Stephen Johnston was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Keller scored on a fielder's choice and Bynum scored on an error.
The Sea Gulls added a run in the second to up the margin to 4-2, and then both teams went scoreless for four innings. In the seventh, UMW took the lead with three runs on three hits. Johnston struck out but reached on a wild pitch, and James Sink followed with a single. Thomas Weaver doubled to score one run, and Ramsis Ruiz scored on a wild pitch to tie the score. Brian Burns followed with an RBI single to give UMW a 5-4 lead.
The Sea Gulls scored twice in the seventh to regain the lead at 6-5, but once again UMW fought back, as Bynum walked, stole second, and scored on a Johnston single. Salisbury took the lead for good with a five-run eighth inning to gain the win.
Weaver had a pair of singles and a double to lead UMW, while Burns, Bynum, and Johnston each had two hits. Paul McClure took the loss in relief for the Eagles.
In the second game, the Eagle offense came alive in a big way, rapping out 23 hits in five innings, and scoring at least three runs in each frame, en route to a 23-6 win.
UMW got things started in the first, as Keller plated Burns with an RBI single, and Sink followed with a two-run single. After Salisbury scored on a home run in the bottom of the first, the Eagles plated three more in the second as Burns provided an RBI triple, then scored on a wild pitch, and Bynum singled to score Mitch Moynihan.
The Sea Gulls scored three in the second to cut the margin to 6-4, but the Eagle offense provided six runs in the third. Ramsis Ruiz scored on a wild pitch before Keller hit a two-run homer. SWink hit an RBI double and David Slupek added a two-run double as well.
In the fourth UMW scored seven runs, with Burns hitting a two-run homer and Ruiz adding a three-run shot. Johnston hit a two-run homer in the fifth, with Keller and Ruiz adding RBI doubles, as the Eagles extended the lead to 23-5. Salisbury scored once in the fifth before the game was called.
Weaver, Burns, Keller, Johnston, Sink and Ruiz had three hits apiece for the Eagles, who smashed a season-high four home runs. Senior Bernie Mayflower picked up the win in relief, scattering eight hits in four inningswith two earned runs and two walks.
The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday when they visit Newport News Apprentice at 3:00 p.m.