SALISBURY, Md. – Five runs in the first inning powered by home runs from Abby Mace and Emily Stockman helped the fourth-ranked Salisbury University softball team open the 2022 NCAA Tournament and the Salisbury Regional with a 9-0 run-rule victory over the Framingham State Rams on Friday.

BOX SCORE
PHOTOS
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Abby Mace led off the game for Salisbury with a home run over the center-field fence.
• After Carly Galbraith hit an RBI single to score Taylor Scott, Emily Stockman cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left to cap the five-run inning for Salisbury.
• A successful double steal added a run in the second inning with Mace stealing home and Lindsey Windsor stole second and advanced to third on an error.
• Salisbury benefitted from another error in the third inning as Galbraith scampered home after a misplay by the Framingham shortstop to put SU ahead 7-0.
• The Sea Gulls put the run rule in effect with a two-run fourth inning. Natalie Paoli and Lauren Meyers led the inning off with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Galbraith hit a sacrifice fly to score Paoli followed by an RBI single to right-center by Emily Stockman to plate her sister, Ellen, and extend the Sea Gull lead to 9-0.
• Framingham loaded the bases in the top of the fifth but Savannah Sheats induced a pop out to second by Brooke Grassia to give the Sea Gulls the win.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• The Sea Gulls scored at least a run in every inning and every starter reached base.
• Carly Galbraith was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Emily Stockman and Lauren Meyers also collected a pair of hits. Stockman hit her second home run of the year on the three-run home run in the first inning.
• Abby Mace scored twice, hit a home run and stole two bases.
• Savannah Sheats earned her 15th win of the season. She only allowed two hits and a walk but struck out three Rams.

UP NEXT

• Salisbury advanced to the winner's bracket of the Salisbury Regional and will take on the Endicott Gulls on Saturday at noon.
• The loser of Salisbury's opening game will play in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m. against the winner of the Framingham/Penn St. Berks matchup.

Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference for men's and women's swimming. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, and dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on-and-off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 22 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 188 conference championships and 41 Academic All-Americans.

To learn more about the tradition of excellence with Sea Gull Athletics, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls