| Michelle Gravdahl gave
Salisbury the first inning lead in its 2-0 win vs.
Anderson. Salisbury photo by Ryan Coleman |
Salisbury reversed its fortunes and was on the winning side of a 2-0 score, ending Anderson's participation in the 2013 NCAA D-III Softball Championship in Eau Claire, Wis.
Salisbury scored in the first with a shot by Michelle Gravdahl to left field that cleared the fences.
It remained 1-0 until the fifth inning where the Sea Gulls added a run to double their advantage. Harley led off the inning with a walk and was moved into scoring position by a sacrifice by Sarah Alpaugh. Hannah Mills' single to left center to bring home Hill.
Anderson mounted a comeback bid in the final frames but was unable to bring home the equalizer.
With starting pitcher Rachel Johnson's day finished after five innings, Kathryn Larson came in relief. The Ravens quickly put on two players on first and third with one out in the sixth inning but a strikeout and pop-up to second ended the treat.
Anderson continued to fight in the seventh. An error on shortstop Mills opened the door for the Ravens. Anderson proceeded to sacrifice Yardley Collet to second and a after an infield single by Lys Hess and a wild pitch, the tying run stood in scoring position with one out. Like the inning before, Larson induced two outs to keep the shutout and come away with a win for the Sea Gulls.
"I should have given Kat [Larson] more live playing time," admitted Salisbury head coach Margie Knight. "It had been a while since she had thrown but Kat came in and did her job."
Larson had pitched just 3-1/3 innings since April 20. She has a 1.71 ERA in 94 innings this season.
"We had a few opportunities," said Anderson head coach Tony Holloway. "We got everything we needed defensively and on the pitching side but needed to get some key hits. We just fell a little short."
Salisbury (40-3) will play the loser of the Montclair State-Tufts game in the second game of day three. Anderson is eliminated from the tournament in its first ever appearance, finishing the season 31-18.